Alternator Mounting on 2.5L Duke (Page 1/2)
MERATIME OCT 12, 02:43 AM
Howdy,

Trying to get an Iron Duke Tech 4 put back together
from an 87 SE 5 speed manual.no AC no compressor
This engine came back from a machine shop this way and the final assembly is in my hands.
My question is how to assemble the alternator on this
engine? I tried to find videos and images of iron dukes with a mounted alternator, but the ones posted seem different as far my mounting hardware (red arrow pointed to part on image)
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
cartercarbaficionado OCT 12, 03:42 AM

quote
Originally posted by MERATIME:

Howdy,

Trying to get an Iron Duke Tech 4 put back together
from an 87 SE 5 speed manual.no AC no compressor
This engine came back from a machine shop this way and the final assembly is in my hands.
My question is how to assemble the alternator on this
engine? I tried to find videos and images of iron dukes with a mounted alternator, but the ones posted seem different as far my mounting hardware (red arrow pointed to part on image)
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.





lemme see what parts you have in a pile for this first
82-T/A [At Work] OCT 12, 08:26 AM

quote
Originally posted by MERATIME:

Howdy,

Trying to get an Iron Duke Tech 4 put back together
from an 87 SE 5 speed manual.no AC no compressor
This engine came back from a machine shop this way and the final assembly is in my hands.
My question is how to assemble the alternator on this
engine? I tried to find videos and images of iron dukes with a mounted alternator, but the ones posted seem different as far my mounting hardware (red arrow pointed to part on image)
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.




Ok, so... there's a few things going on here.

1 - You definitely have a 1987-1988 engine, as you have the frame of the belt tensioner.
2 - Your belt tensioner is misssing the actual belt tensioner piece (the part that goes in the middle of that circle thing)
3 - You have 1984-1986 V-belt pulleys on it... which are incompatible with the serpentine system for which your belt tensioner is used for.
4 - The big open hole above should also be closed up. There should be a freeze plug in there to block it off since the water neck attaches to the other side (make sure they didn't block it off on the opposite side).


I guess what I'm saying is, there's some weird stuff going on here, and it looks like they took all the good stuff off your motor that makes it an 87.

Can you tell us a little bit more? Are you missing all of the brackets for the engine? If you're missing everything, you're likely going to have to buy a donor engine and swap out all the brackets.

I don't want to confuse you, but in this picture here, the alternator bracket consists of an upper and a lower bracket as you see here (this is for an 84-86 engine):




I kind of went in the opposite direction. My daughter had an 85 SE and we upgraded it to use all of the brackets and serpentine system from an 88 motor we had (which is more like yours). That weird triangle bracket on your motor... that's a belt tensioner. The engines from 86 going to the 87 model year are totally different. That bracket is also a block-off plate for the engine coolant. It's where the water pump used to be installed many many years ago in a previous iteration of the engine. In the 84-86 model years, there's 4 bolts (smaller) that hold it tight to the engine. In your year, there's three bolts (as you see holding that bracket on). So this is the biggest distinction between those model years. In your case, because you have an 87, everything should be serpentine... yet everything is backwards here. It's like someone downgraded it to the previous years system.


I don't want to confuse you, but this is more like what you should see on your engine... AC compressor, water pump, crank pulley, and alternator should all be serpentine (6-groove, rather than two V-belts).





In this picture above, I've converted an 86 engine to all the stuff that YOUR engine should have come with. Except that I can't use the belt tensioner, so I've instead used the alternator bracket from an 86 as the means for tensioning the belt, since I cannot install an 87-88 belt tensioner.


Maybe someone has a completed picture of an 87-88 that they can post to help you out... but bottom line, half this stuff doesn't belong on your motor.


My personal opinion, if this is going into a MERA, and since you're already missing like half the parts for your engine... you might be better off buying a completed Fiero V6/60 engine, or doing a simple engine swap to like a 3400 motor or something (which will drop right in without any modification, and can use all the stock parts and your stock transmission, just needs higher pressure fuel pump, and the computer from the donor car).
Dennis LaGrua OCT 12, 10:48 AM
What I would check first is the oil pan, The 88 Duke has the oil filter built into the oil pan. Now if they used an 87 oil pan on an 88 engine you might have problems with oiling but not being very familiar with Duke engines I cannot say for sure. We should let the Duke experts comment on this.

------------------
" THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite.
"THE COLUSSUS"
87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H
" ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "

[This message has been edited by Dennis LaGrua (edited 10-12-2024).]

cartercarbaficionado OCT 12, 12:23 PM

quote
Originally posted by Dennis LaGrua:

What I would check first is the oil pan, The 88 Duke has the oil filter built into the oil pan. Now if they used an 87 oil pan on an 88 engine you might have problems with oiling but not being very familiar with Duke engines I cannot say for sure. We should let the Duke experts comment on this.


nope you are correct. buddy learned that the hard way.
MERATIME OCT 12, 03:53 PM
Thank you all for the responses.I recently purchased this Fiero as engine equipped. I will look into making the required adjustments as mentioned.
82-T/A [At Work] OCT 12, 04:01 PM

quote
Originally posted by MERATIME:

Thank you all for the responses.I recently purchased this Fiero as engine equipped. I will look into making the required adjustments as mentioned.




My honest opinion... don't even waste your time with this engine. Are you willing to do a modest engine swap?

A 3400 motor will put you into high 14s all day long in the quarter, and it will be on-par with a Ferrari 308 of that era. Plus, the 3400 basically drops in...
82-T/A [At Work] OCT 12, 04:36 PM
FYI, this is what your 4cyl engine should look like when assembled. It's the clearest picture I could find...
MERATIME OCT 12, 09:24 PM
Thanks 82-T/A for this image. This will help. I wish I had funds for a swap. Someday….
MERATIME OCT 13, 02:59 AM
82 T/A, This is the other side of the block. You mentioned earlier about openings on the engine. This was how the machine shop send the rebuilt engine.

[This message has been edited by MERATIME (edited 10-13-2024).]