Someone mentioned the lower bracket for the 72-82 Corvette will bolt right up to your heads. I made a custom one of my own, but it is cracking and I had more time into it than buying the Corvette one would cost.

 

This will work for you, I'm sure Jim will chime in with pictures. I noticed you MAY have a long water pump. Is your water pump touching your timing cover? This bracket is for a short setup. Your water pum has to be VERY close to the timing cover.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ALTE...E-67-72-PICKUPS_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ34202QQihZ002QQitemZ4654049808QQrdZ1

Another

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/72-8...ket-PN3951337_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ10076QQihZ010QQitemZ200001516510QQrdZ1

 

the pic that mnm99 put up IS the early cast iron version of the vette bracket, and will work for a drivers side alt, short water pump setup.

Note that, by definition, 68 and older small block cars have a short water pump and drivers side alternator and no accessory holes in the heads. 69 and up use a long water pump and pass side alternator and the heads have accessory holes. This goes for ALL chevy passengers cars, probably trucks too.

Exception is Corvette, which used short pump / driver side alt thru 82.

It's not a terribly big deal to switch from one setup to the other, but unless you go with fancy custom street rod style bracketry, it's gonna be ALL or NOTHING.

Here's my pic, "late" vette alluminum bracket, short water pump 68 w/accessory hole heads: http://www.camaros.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=830&d=1148210985

 

You mentioned Vintage Air? Think now, that ac unit will come with I think , Alan Grove Components brackets. Look to see on their site what they have as a complete set up for the alt (and i know they do). This way all brackets will look alike.

 

Thanks for the tips. However, I suspect this is a long water pump. The pulley starts at about 4.5" from the block. Can anyone tell me how to tell for sure?

 

you can tell simply by trying to stick your finger between the pump and the timing cover. With a long pump your finger will fit between them. With a short pump, a peice of cardboard will barely fit.

Note that with a 69 car and oem bracketry, pass side alternator and drivers side A/C is "normal." It's not the only way for sure, but when you order your vintage air it what they will "expect"

I second the notion to do some shopping at Alan Grove and see what they have available. When you get into the custom street rod style stuff, many many combo exist, it's just a question of ordering the right setup and having the $$$ to pay for it.

I totally agree that having those big A/C hoses draping across the front of your moter is ugly as sin, but it becomes a question of how many $$$ it's worth to you to get rid of them.

Cheapest way to do it would be to put on a short pump and the vette alt. bracket, then order the A/C for a 68. Note that if you do it this way, you'll need to research the power steering as well if you use it, 'fraid I don't have the answer there for sure.

 

There is plenty of room between the water pump and the timing cover, so that means I have the long water pump.

 

See what they got

http://www.alangrovecomponents.com/Catalog.htm

 

Around $30 and for bolts for a shorty.. If it comes down to it.

 

Thanks everyone, Alan Grove was the ticket. Here's what the bracket looks like:

Now the only question is how to finish it. I already have chrome, aluminum, stainless steel and nickel under the hood. Also orange and black. Any suggestions?

 

I like the prices on the Alan Grove stuff. I would like to do a serpentine system and theirs is WAY cheaper than the fancy March systems.

 

They make several differant mount styles,, high, mid and low mount. Finish them off with what ever coating you wish to match up to or chrome. I left mine black .

 

You can steal the complete serpentine system off an old 4.3 L. V-6 Astro Van if that is the way anybody wants to go..

I figure almost dirt cheap from a "pic-a-part" yard...

pdq67

 

I am running the factory serp. system off of a 95 Chevrolet pick-up.. It's the same as the 4.3L set up. The bracket that holds the alternator (drivers side) and the power steering pump is all one piece.

I found a way to mount the belt tensioner using one of the water pumps bolts and the system works flawlessly. The alt. sits just high enough that I can get my tall valve covers on & off without having to move it. No complaints on this system as of yet.