Topic: 403 Olds Alternator + Power Steering Bracket arrangement (Firebird)

[Wallington]

After a few requests and much interest in one of my early pages on another forum of how to fit the accessory brackets for the Oldsmobile engines in Firebird I've decided to upgrade the photos with more accurate photos, details and include fasteners used hopefully to save someone a lot of time in the future.
this is the setup used for both the '77-'79 403 and also the '77 350 Olds in F-bodies.

As you will see I don't have an engine or head to assemble to at present but should still be clear enough.

Starting from the very beginning, the timing cover.
Timing Cover bolt arrangement by Aus78Formula, on Flickr

Timing Cover Fasteners list:
1.  1/4" UNC x 1.25 + flat washers.
2.  5/16" UNC x 1.5" accessory stud with 5/8" extension for alternator black bracket + 2x flat washers + 5/16" nut.
3.  5/16" UNC x 1.5" + flat washers. (Some other applications may use studs #2 for either of the #3 bolts)
4.  3/8" UNC x 1" + flat washers.
4a. This bolt is shown the same as #4 in photo, holds the Timing tag, originally uses an accessory stud 3/8" UNC x 1" x 1.5" extension + flat washer. For originality only, no accessories use this stud in Firebirds.
5.  5/16" UNC x 2.5" accessory stud with 5/8" extension + flat washer used by cars with AIR pump bracket.

Add the water pump showing correct arrangement of bolts and studs fitted, Timing tag and stud not shown.
Water pump to timing cover bolt arrangement by Aus78Formula, on Flickr

Water pump to timing cover bolt arrangement2 by Aus78Formula, on Flickr

The very first part of the brackets is to mount the alloy alternator bracket into the front of the head. Line up the other holes to make sure it's straight before locking up. Do not add a washer or it will foul the Power Steering pump added later.
Alternator alloy bracket 499313 by Aus78Formula, on Flickr

Alloy Alternator bracket #499313 fasteners:
9. 3/8" UNC x 5/8" long, no washers.

Next is the steel alternator bracket, it swings off the stud on the water pump shown earlier.
alternator water pump stud by Aus78Formula, on Flickr

Here's the fasteners required for further assembly of this bracket.
Alternator bracket bolt arrangement by Aus78Formula, on Flickr
Black alternator bracket fasteners:
2.  5/16" UNC x 1.5" accessory stud with 5/8" extension for alternator black bracket + 2x flat washers + 5/16" nut.
7.  3/8" UNC x 4.5" long + heavy flat washer. (passes through tube spacer #8 and all brackets into head)
8.  Tube spacer 3/8" I.D. x 2.5" long.
10.  Alternator bolt 3/8" UNC x 5.25" long + flat washers + 3/8" nut. (Factory uses 3" long threaded into alloy bracket, usually stripped out so longer bolt and nut used)
11.  3/8" UNC x 1" + heavy flat washer. (Threads into captive nut on bracket)

Next is the Power Steering pump assembly, I'll add a few quick pics of how it is setup.
power steering assembly1 by Aus78Formula, on Flickr

power steering front bracket bolts by Aus78Formula, on Flickr
Front PS bracket fasteners:
12.  3/8" UNC x 3/4 long.
13.  3/8" UNC x 1" long.
14.  3/8 I.D. spacer x 3/8" thick.

power steering rear bracket bolts2 by Aus78Formula, on Flickr

Rear PS bracket fasteners:
15.  3/8" flat washers.
16.  3/8" spring washers.
17.  3/8" UNC nuts.
17a. Not shown is 1/4" thick spacer to fit the lower 3/8" stud, will be obvious when you mount plate against the rear which one needs it. (
* The half-height (3/16" thick) 3/8" UNC nuts are parts of the PS pump, one on each stud.)

You should end up with something like this as a complete PS unit:
power steering assembly2 by Aus78Formula, on Flickr

power steering assembly3 by Aus78Formula, on Flickr

power steering assembly4 by Aus78Formula, on Flickr

power steering assembly5 by Aus78Formula, on Flickr

Next you slide the PS unit in between the existing alternator brackets using fasteners below and those with the back steel U bracket above.
power steering rear bracket bolts by Aus78Formula, on Flickr
PS rear bracket fasteners:
6.  3/8" UNC x 1.5" long + heavy washer. (Rear PS bracket threads into head)
6a.  Not shown in pic but should be #11, 3/8" UNC x 1" + heavy flat washer. (Threads into captive nut on black alternator bracket from front PS bracket)
7.  3/8" UNC x 4.5" long + heavy flat washer. (passes through tube spacer #8 and all brackets into head, both standard holes shown)
8.  Tube spacer 3/8" I.D. x 2.5" long.

Olds Fbody powersteering alternator brackets by Aus78Formula, on Flickr

Finally, fit the alternator to complete accessory brackets.
Alternator powersteering bracket setup1 by Aus78Formula, on Flickr

Alternator powersteering bracket setup7 by Aus78Formula, on Flickr

Alternator powersteering bracket setup9 by Aus78Formula, on Flickr

Alternator powersteering bracket setup8 by Aus78Formula, on Flickr
The 3x bolts coming through the base of the alloy bracket thread into the head.

Alternator powersteering bracket setup6 by Aus78Formula, on Flickr

Alternator powersteering bracket setup5 by Aus78Formula, on Flickr

Alternator powersteering bracket setup4 by Aus78Formula, on Flickr

Alternator powersteering bracket setup3 by Aus78Formula, on Flickr

Alternator powersteering bracket setup2 by Aus78Formula, on Flickr

Hopefully, that helped someone, 1/2hr to do, 6hrs to explain with uploaded photos and measuring bolts!

[dewcrazzy]

nice thread, great work.

[RENOVATIONS]

EXCELLENT post

[Grand73Am]

Yes, beautiful job! This will be a great reference. Trying to keep track of where the different length bolts go is always a challenge  .

[Johnmerc]

Hey Man!
Great set of pictures and a ton of help.
Want to say thank you for the effort. 
This helped my son get his car back up and running while he is in college 350 miles from home!  Saved me the trip there to do it with him.  Now he can drive the car home for Christmas , and we can work on redoing the interior like we planned.

[Wallington]

Glad you could make sense of it

[Maryland Bandit]

Beautifull job explaining that!

[4SPEED]

thanks for the help.  free bump back to the top. 

[oldskoolubr]

EXCELLENT work as always Aus!  Only thing now is you put all those finger prints on that beautifully painted Timing Cover! 

[Wallington]

Ha don't worry, the whole lot was repainted once bolted in place.

[oldskoolubr]

HAHAHAHAHA  You are so OCD! 

[Wallington]

Haha its not ocd. Haha its not ocd. Haha its not ocd.
Actually, was more from guy assembling it knocking the paint around plus the fresh stainless bolts 

[oldskoolubr]

ROFLROFLROFL  Hey on another note, did you just get a threaded stud and add the nut and loctite for the replacements or what?

[Wallington]

Threaded rod!? Come on, nothing but original studs there! And due to the different brackets for different models some studs are not used at all.u

[oldskoolubr]

Ya I replaced everything except those bcuz I couldn't find separately!    Will be reassembling in a month or so after machine work and gathering all the part!    Should be hitting you up plenty around that time!