Correct Alernator Hookup / 73 Cj5

Hello all, first post after lurking for a while. In the processes of installing a new painless performance wiring harness in my 73 CJ5 to correct the numerous "improvements" the previous owners have made over the years. I just finished connecting the alternator and noticed the bracket made out of pipe strap holding the alternator up, is this supposed to support the alternator or act as a ground to the block? It also looks like the alternator is leaning back towards the rear of the engine block causing the v-belt to not sit centered in the pulley. Can anyone provide pictures on what a correct alternator setup for the 258 I6 should look like?



Much appreciated!

 

The plumber's tape is not original. The alternator is not original.

A '73 came with a Motorola alternator and externally mounted regulator. This is a Delco 10SI alternator with an internal regulator. I would attribute the belt misalignment to the wrong alternator. What do you want to do, make this work or return it to original?

You should have the TSM for 1973. They are inexpensive as a PDF on CD from RockAuto and likely elsewhere. Or you can spend a little more and get a paper reprint. The '74 TSM located here Jeep® 1974 TSM online will be the same for most systems of your Jeep. Look at figure 3-9 for how your original alternator mounted. The wiring diagram in the TSM shows how the original alternator was connected. There was a rigid steel L-bracket from the block to the back of the original alternator, where the plumber's tape is now.

 

First post! Welcome from Boston.

 

Thanks! If there is an alternator that has an internal regulator that would fit I would rather go that route however it seems Napa/Autozone/O'reily's all have the model with the external regulator.

 

Hey - you're welcome! Hope it was helpful!

The 10SI is a pretty standard upgrade alternator, but you're going to have to figure out how to make it work. Jeep went to the 10SI for the inline 6s in 1975, but the configuration is really different, with the alternator on the passenger side. The 10SI is a good choice, if you can mount it so that the pulleys line up and the brackets support the alternator.

You could fall back to the Motorola, but they are not as reliable as the Delcos. And they need an external regulator, which means more wires and more parts.

 

My 75 came with a Motorola.. It's junk. You are better off adapting a bracket to the 10SI. I installed a 130 CS in mine. Altered the OEM bracket a bit to make it fit. If you had all the OEM stuff you could measure the differences and adjust accordingly. Might find the OEM bracket and alt in a junkyard. That'd be a start.

 

This may help.

The "You're an Idiot" restoration

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f8/1974-cj5-internal-regulated-alternator-upgrade-how-3415842/

 

Thanks for the help everyone. I ended up keeping the Delco unit that was installed and made a bracket that aligns the pulley correctly as well as grounding to the block.