I installed an '88 Fiero alternator on my '85 2.8 GT yesterday. I also installed Dickman's idler pulley kit. When I went to put the alt heat shield back on I noticed that the position of the alt had changed somewhat upwards. The heat shield hits the end of the exhaust manifold. Easily fixed by cutting a small piece of the shield out where it interferes with the manifold. My question is, is this common?
Also, I highly recommend the '88 alt swap, 105 amp, as many have in this forum. My headlites go up twice as fast, on and on. I did not, however, have to pop the tie rod out. When I removed the alt bracket, the alt nearly rolled out on the floor.

I did the same upgrade not too long ago. All of my heatshields are chrome plated, so I wanted to keep the alternator shield, even if it was just for show.

I didn't install the idler pulley, but mine was close to the exhaust manifold as well. I just played with the mounting bolt and alligment of the shield and left it in place as is.

Marc

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Marc in sunny Titusville, FL

• 84 SE son's car, loaded
  
• 85 Coup w/V6 transplant
  
• 85 GT newly on the road
  
• 86 SE/GT "The Chameleon" - big plans!

quote Originally posted by raysr11: When I went to put the alt heat shield back on I noticed that the position of the alt had changed somewhat upwards.

Is the back of the alternator "clocked" in the correct position?

quote Originally posted by raysr11: I did not, however, have to pop the tie rod out. When I removed the alt bracket, the alt nearly rolled out on the floor.

Either you have a manual tranny, and/or the '88 alternator is physically smaller than the older version.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 01-28-2010).]

When I did the 88 alt. swap used a metal bar to offset the shield to the rear since the 88 alt. does not have a mounting hole in the same place.

quote Originally posted by Patrick: Either you have a manual tranny, and/or the '88 alternator is physically smaller than the older version.

X2 with the auto it looks like taking the alternator out is like having a root canal.

Taking it out wasn't really that bad. But when I got it all out I noticed a MM bolt was missing. When I took the alt bracket off it too had a lower bolt missing. So after raising the engine and getting a top bolt in I thought that was it. But when I put the alt bracket back on, low and behold the missing MM bolt was the missing alt bolt! Duh!
In the pix above the alt looks further to the left than mine. Also did you make that notch for the alt plug? I had to make one for mine, the shield rubbed on the wire too hard. And I had to notch it to clear the exhaust manifold. Not a big deal.

As far as the clocking, it looked the same as the one I took off, it was a CS also, don't know what it came off of. The only thing I would recommend is to be sure and put anti-sieze on the top alt bolt, for future removal. I thought that sucker was going break off in the aluminum for sure. My Notch is an auto.

[This message has been edited by raysr11 (edited 01-28-2010).]

quote Originally posted by raysr11: But when I got it all out I noticed a MM bolt was missing.

What's an "MM bolt"?

Motor Mount bolt.

I did the '88 alt upgrade to my '86 when I was rebuilding it. I've got a 4t60 auto swapped in too, so it makes replaceing the alt interesting... I haven't had to do it yet, but I expect that when I do, I'll have to remove the alt bracket to do so.

On the heat shield, I just left mine off. There aren't heat shields on the '88 so I figured that the internally cooled CS130 alt didn't really need it anyway. Also, the heat shield can actually channel more heat into the alt casing via conduction through the mounting bolt.

[This message has been edited by Alibi (edited 01-29-2010).]

quote Originally posted by Alibi: On the heat shield, I just left mine off. There aren't heat shields on the '88 so I figured that the internally cooled CS130 alt didn't really need it anyway.

The 88s however have a small sheild attached to the exhaust manifold mounting studs that provides the same purpose as the 85-87 alternator heat sheild.

This is what the '88's have:

Wow, what a sharp engine.

Thats Very nice ! - (isn't That the Exaust Gasket they say "not to use ?( wide band, no room for flex)) Now that I'm looking at the pic, I'm seeing all the parts (shields) that have been thrown away by previous owners on mine ! Off to the Mall !

quote Originally posted by Lou6t4gto: Now that I'm looking at the pic, I'm seeing all the parts (shields) that have been thrown away by previous owners on mine ! Off to the Mall !

LOL! I was just thinking the same thing; I never realized there were little clips to secure the wiring harness to the lower portion of the block. I need to find those.