The size of the opening on my alt bracket is 2 7/16" and the size of the bracket it needs to bolt up to is ~2 1/8". Is there some sort of spacer I'm missing?

 

The N/A's have a spacer, don't know about the turbos, but if everything's lined up as it should be, and you still have about a 3/8" gap at the lower bolt location, then you're missing the spacer...

 

I still need to find my alternator bolt. God I need to stop losing bolts.

 

Ummm .. can someone gimme a good deal on a spacer? ;-)

 

You got a bunch of washers that will fit the bolt shank? Same thing...

BTW, look around on top of the engine, and on the belly pan, sometimes they like to drop out of sight when we pull that lower bolt...

 

I feel ya man, I lost mine for over 2 weeks.

My 89 doesnt have a spacer.

 

Why is it that sometime the simplest fixes turn into the biggest headaches. I mean, what could be simpler than removing the 2 bolts needed to swap the alternator?!?

 

Swapping an engine?

 

"Ummm .. can someone gimme a good deal on a spacer? ;-)"

Id go the washer route personally. I dont know how many times i've droped the spacer while trying to reinstall the alt... you have to give it a few taps with a hammer just to get the spacer in let alone trying to get the bolt on afterwards... the 5-6 washers should do the trick and they wont be as much of a pain to get in...

just test to see how many you need then stuper glue them together and you have an easier to deal with spacer

 

why do you even need the spacer? i am asking for my own purposes and yes i know its a dumb question?????

 

If you don't have the spacer, theres a gap between the bracket and the alternator and it will be loose. I've had mine fall out the first time I took off my alternator, but once you know it's there, it isn't a problem.

 

You'll also break off the "ear" of the alt body if you torque her down without some form of spacer in there...Get that one on video to share with the rest of us, lol...

 

guess ill revive this one, but damn, im in the same situation...i just went out and bought a steel spacer, is the stock one nylon or what??? and it goes towards the front of the car between the bracket right?

and for future reference the water pump on the series 5 has a larger spot for the alternator to go onto, so no need for a spacer. (i checked it out on a spare engine)

and if you guys think you've lost bolts....HOLY ****. This is what i get for taking the engine out a year and a half ago, and putting it together now LOL.
its ridiculous

 

It needs to be metal- it helps the alternator ground to the engine structure...

Mine, at least, goes towards the back of the alt...

Lol, got lots of "spare parts"?

 

haha, i have like 50 washers on my alternator...

 

A hardware store could give you a GREAT deal

 

thank god for the good people of ace..