Pat 87 Carrera Coupe

In taking out my alternator from my 87 Carrera coupe, I did not observe closely the way the spacer was seated on the shaft of the alternator. Needless to say it dropped off into my lap. I was careful to note placement of nearly every other item in the removal process.

The spacer has a narrow part of the circle and a wide part. I believe the narrow part of the circle/spacer sits flush against the alternator while the wide part meets up against the fan wheel. Is this correct? I did note that the markings left on the fan wheel make it appear that perhaps the narrow part of the spacer meets the fan wheel.

Any assistance would be appreciated. Thanks guys. Pat

Bill Gregory

Pat,

The alternator goes in, followed by the fan, followed by shims, followed by the pulley half, followed by remaining shims, followed by the spacer you described (large opening towards the shims), followed by the nut that goes against the small opening on the spacer.

Pat 87 Carrera Coupe

Thanks Bill. However, I follow you on the order of re-installing the alternator. But the spacer that I am referring to is the small one between the altternator and the flywheel. I agree with everything else that you described. Do you know the spacer 'thing' that I am talking about?

Jeff Curtis

The spacer you're referring to, I assume, is the copper or brass?? spacer between the alternator and the REAR of the fan?

The narrow -or- smallest end goes towards the alternator...this is to allow no chance for rubbing -or- chafing against the shaft seal on the alternator...the bigger/wider end of the chamferred spacer goes to the rear of the fan, this provides maximum contact w/the circumference of the shaft hole in the fan.

As an earlier thread stated, you then place the fan on, a few spacers, cup washer - widest or "cup" towards fan, then your remaining spacers and alternator nut.

Please note, the arrangement of your spacers are dependent upon if you are reusing the original alternator belt or a new one, also if your previous belt required tightening or not.

Fewer washers between the fan and cup washer would tighten the belt, more would loosen...hope this helps!

PWD 87 Carrera Coupe

Got it. Jeff, thanks for the feedback. Narrow part down toward alternator does match up best and avoids the chaffing that you indicated. Concerning the shims, I had 1 on the inside and six on the outside. The alternator belt did not need adjustment and was not that old. I figured that I would replace it with a new one to be safe. Do you expect that I will not need the 1 shim on the inside? I have read that it is best to use the shims in the same order that they were in when removing old belt. And that I should be sure to use all of them. I guess I'll know when I re-install new belt later this week. Thanks again for the detailed and specific feedback!

Jeff Curtis

Most certainly use all of your shims! If you get a new belt, the arrangement will likely not be the same as the new belt woult probably be way too tight if you only have one shim in between the pulley halves.

I would start w/three shims between the pulley halves and go from there...too loose? Take one out from in between the pulley halves.

With a new belt, you will basically have to start from scratch on proper/ideal shim arrangement...again, always use all of them, just shuffle them around depending on the need to loosen/tighten the belt.

Allow me to correct something stated in my last response...the fewer the spacers between the pulley halves, the tighter the belt.

I kind of botched my explanation by saying, "Fewer washers between the fan and cup washer would tighten the belt"...sorry if I confused anyone.