Gt alternator removal

[BDD]

O.K. In the 1973 FSM (bastard creation that it is), after removing the bottom pivot bolt that holds the alternator in, the last step in "Alternator Removal" is "Rotate down and Remove Alternator". Now with the GT at least, this is just a cruel lie. It looks as if that will never happen as long as alternators remain incompressible. That is just how the FSM is in many cases.

Rotating it around and tipping it on end, fan side up, it looks as if I might come close to getting it out through the top by angling the projecting "arms" or "bosses" on the casting (where the bolts mount) to the places where there is some space for them (across the car between the distributor and radiator).

Is removing or just loosening the fan shroud enough to get the alternator out? The shorud and fan blades are a bit elastic and it might be able to be forced past them.

What's the secret here that Opel saw fit to not print? I would rather not remove the distributor or the radiator, or the pedal arm to the brake booster, or the steering shaft below which are all in the way depending on which way it get's out and the new one gets in.

[sawdust]

Originally Posted by BDD What's the secret here ......

Mark where the distributor is then rotate everything out of the way.

byte your tongue.

It will come out.

[dcm013]

That was the only way I could get the distributor out of my GT.

Don

[Lindsay]

Years ago thought I could find a smaller sized alternator, such as, Denso style to fit into the GT. Just couldn't find what I wanted.

If you have to replace alternator, I had excellent results with 13050 (45-50 Amp) from Online Auto Parts and Auto Accessories Store at PartsAmerica.com instead of 13009.

Look up 1975 Opel instead of 1969 to 1973 GT. Many Owners have switched to GM style alternators also.

[BDD]

I have a spare alternator that I hope works. Took it to Autozone today to have it tested first just in case. They said it's too old to test. I think they said that they had no way to hook it up to their machine so it has to be tested in the car.

It looks as if the distributor could be rotated a bit to get the vacuum sender out of the way but too far and the condenser will be in the way. It should work with the fan shroud loosened.

[gt crazy]

I took my spark plugs out and then rotated the alternator in some tight and awkard spins and it will pop out. I dont remember exactly how i turned it. But i got mine to slide out the little room from the spark plugs out.

Now i got a 65 amp alternator in my gt

[West Coast GT]

You may even want to mark the distributor's position & remove it outright.

My solution may not interest you, but since I was replacing the original fan with electric I removed the radiator, shroud, and fan. Once removed, the alternator slides out quite easily and the fatter Delco/GM unit slides in easy. But this is a pain in the ..... way to go about it.

The plug removal idea sounds the best.

[BDD]

If the distrubutor vacuum advance or some other part don't happen to also be in the way there is room alonside the engine (spark plug removal) to take it out. I'll try this and or rotating the distributor to see what works for me. The car seems so well tuned up that I'll avoid moving the distributor if possible.

Good suggestions. I thought I'd ask what has worked for others before I damage something rotating the alternator around and trying other possible escape routes.

[BDD]

I tried both methods. First I removed the first 2 spark plugs and tried to get the alternator out that way. Apparently it can be done but I was having real difficulty getting it past the fuel line, which I disconnected but would not want to put a lot of wear and tear on. Also, the throttle linkage is in the way and the coil which I took out. I actually could not get the alternator out that way. It was also tight against the steering shaft and distributor. When I rotated the distributor I tried once more in this direction and went to plan B.

What worked the best was to loosen the fan shroud and jam it behind the fan blade and distributor, loosen the distributor and rotate it counter clockwise to get the vacuum advance out of the way and retighten it, then remove the alternator vertically. I had to force it a bit around the shroud and booster linkage but this route worked the best for me. I got the replacement alternator in relatively quickly (a minute or so) once I knew which way to get it in. This method is actually pretty fast once you get the alternator disconnected and figure out the way to orient it.

This is the method I recommend.

It's very different from that magical last step that's written in the factory manual. That must be for Manta's or 1900's that have a lot more room between things.

[sawdust]

This was for a GT wasn't it.

I had mine out a couple times and did not have to remove spark plugs.
Just rotate the dizzy and back out the alternator. No pain.

You sure yours is an Opel alternator?

Anyways -- congrats