The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop generator pulley alignment on 1956 235

Hey guys- I'm really stumped.

I have an orange/red 235ci that was cast in 1956, and was used in a car (don't know which). I have installed the original harmonic balancer with one belt groove for the newer 3/8" belt. The belt groove in the balancer perfectly aligns with the belt groove in the after-market short-shaft water pump and special pulley that we all use to fit this engine in my 53 3100. Great so far-

I'm trying to reuse a long 12V generator that was pulled from a 58 Chevy according to the yellow junk-yard paint. This is the long generator that has a 7-1/8" space between the front and rear flanges, and I have an original 7-1/8" long mounting bracket with the standard three-hole pattern that matches right up with the three holes in the block.

When I mount this generator and bracket with the pulley that was originally on it, (the most often-seen short generator pulley with the 3/8" belt groove right up against the pulley fan blades), the belt groove is about 1/2" too far back compared to balancer/fan belt groove. I found online a different generator pulley, which has the belt groove extended about a 1/2" away from the pulley fan blades. However, with this pulley installed, the belt still does not quite line up right, and the bracket from the water pump to the back of the top front generator flange does not line up right either (does not look right in any position).

From all of the pictures I have seen of late-50's 235 engines with single belts, the generator always uses the pulley with the belt groove close to the pulley fan blades, suggesting I've got the wrong bracket for mounting this generator to the block, and it's sitting too far back. I got around this before by butchering the holes in an identical bracket to be long slots, allowing me to slide the generator 1/2" forward. I've done a ton of searching on ebay, and the only 7-1/8" generator brackets I have seen have the exact same hole pattern and position as the one I have- So now I'm confused. Is there a special bracket out there with the holes 1/2" back and I have just not seen it, or what else is going on? Maybe someone can take a picture of the bracket they use to align an original long 12V generator.

Please help! Thanks in advance, -Warren (squarenutz)

Use whichever pulley gets the alignment closest to right, and then slot the bracket mounting holes enough to tweak the fit into final alignment. Once it's lined up right, use flat washers to cover the slotted holes, and LocTite on the bolt threads to keep everything tight.
Jerry

Jerry-

There are lots of hacks I can do to "make it work". (The original owner used long bolts and stuffed in washers and nuts to space it forward.)

I'd really like to find the factory correct solution that I see in all of the pictures. Someone has to know how to do this!

Also- if you have had to hack the bracket to get yours to fit, I'd like to know that as well!

Thanks, -W

I've redrilled & elongated holes for many years. It's not a perfect world out there.