el_roy1985
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Bismarck, ND
I'm sick of going through alternators. So I decided I should relocate it so it isn't always getting dunked in the muddy/sandy water that I like to go through. Not only that, but having it down there also leaves it vulnerable to simply being splashed with mud that isn't all that deep. I'm sure a lot of us are familiar with this little issue already. Seems that some are luckier than others with the matter and don't seem to run into the problem as much.
I went about researching what solutions others had. I found splash guards. Those would work if I was just splashing through mud, but I also like to go through muddy water that easily submerges the alternator. So that is a no go for me. I also noticed some people replace the AC with the alternator, but I want to maintain the AC. It still works and I like to have my Jeep somewhat comfortable on the really hot and muggy days and someday I may want to use it for on-board air when the AC either stops working or I decide I can do without it. So again, not a solution for me. Then lastly, it seems there is a way to use the Wrangler setup that relocates the alternator. That seems like a lot of work though and more money then I want to spend. So yet again, not my cup of tea.
What I was really looking for, was someone that decided to put the alternator up where the battery is located. I figured someone had to have tried it, as that was the first place I thought of to put it and being able to maintain the AC. It also raises the alternator higher up then the Wrangler solution. It will require relocation of the battery, but I don't think that will be all that hard of a job. Especially being that I have the Spectre cowl intake, I can just put the battery where the original air box was.
So anyways, enough of my rambling on. Here are some pictures of the progress so far. I have a bit of welding to do to make the mount more solid, but the alternator is in place and looks as though it will work out well.
I used angle iron that bolts to the original alternator bracket bosses on the engine. I had originally thought about having the new bracket also bolt to the top bolts on the AC, but it is already solid enough to where I don't feel that will be necessary. Especially after I get the new bracket reinforced with welds and cross braces between the angle iron pieces.
This new location uses the same belt as factory. The only issue I feel may come up, is that the AC does not have as much belt wrap. If it proves to not be enough and the belt slips on the AC, I will probably put a idler pulley in place to fix the issue. The amount of wrap lost seems negligible though, so I'm hoping this will not be an issue.
I went about researching what solutions others had. I found splash guards. Those would work if I was just splashing through mud, but I also like to go through muddy water that easily submerges the alternator. So that is a no go for me. I also noticed some people replace the AC with the alternator, but I want to maintain the AC. It still works and I like to have my Jeep somewhat comfortable on the really hot and muggy days and someday I may want to use it for on-board air when the AC either stops working or I decide I can do without it. So again, not a solution for me. Then lastly, it seems there is a way to use the Wrangler setup that relocates the alternator. That seems like a lot of work though and more money then I want to spend. So yet again, not my cup of tea.
What I was really looking for, was someone that decided to put the alternator up where the battery is located. I figured someone had to have tried it, as that was the first place I thought of to put it and being able to maintain the AC. It also raises the alternator higher up then the Wrangler solution. It will require relocation of the battery, but I don't think that will be all that hard of a job. Especially being that I have the Spectre cowl intake, I can just put the battery where the original air box was.
So anyways, enough of my rambling on. Here are some pictures of the progress so far. I have a bit of welding to do to make the mount more solid, but the alternator is in place and looks as though it will work out well.
I used angle iron that bolts to the original alternator bracket bosses on the engine. I had originally thought about having the new bracket also bolt to the top bolts on the AC, but it is already solid enough to where I don't feel that will be necessary. Especially after I get the new bracket reinforced with welds and cross braces between the angle iron pieces.
This new location uses the same belt as factory. The only issue I feel may come up, is that the AC does not have as much belt wrap. If it proves to not be enough and the belt slips on the AC, I will probably put a idler pulley in place to fix the issue. The amount of wrap lost seems negligible though, so I'm hoping this will not be an issue.