thickness of alternator bracket

[Tim T.]

What is the thickness of an original alternator brace on a 63 ?
Mine is 7/32 thick & was told @ the nationals it is a repro as it is too thick.
I believe mine to be an original.
Thanks in advance,
Tim

[Timothy B.]

Re: thickness of alternator bracket

Tim,

Original 1963 alternator adjusting brackets have a V stamped into them.

[Tim T.]

Re: thickness of alternator bracket

Yes, mine has a V stampede in it.
Do any of the repos have a V stamped in them?
Still would like to know the thickness of an original
Thanks,
Tim

[Edward J.]

Re: thickness of alternator bracket

Tim, I don't have a mic. handy but my tape shows to be to 3/16ths thickness, I took the measurement at the top of the adjuster area. Tim I was thinking, Could the judge have been talking about the change from the bottom of the adjuster bracket to the top, As the bracket gets smaller on the way up?

[David L.]

Re: thickness of alternator bracket

Tim,

I have seen repro 63 Corvette (wo/AC) alternator braces and they are much thicker than my original 63 brace (not bracket), GM # 3825462, stamped with the letter "V" (which I sold and no longer have). The 3825462 brace is almost identical to the 3868882 brace except for the total length - same slot length, same curvature. I have two 3868882 braces, one used and one NOS. The 3868882 is about an inch longer than the 63 brace.

All the braces in the photo below are the same thickness, maybe about 3/16" or so. I can measure them (exc. the 3825462 brace) with a micrometer, if necessary.

Dave

[Tim T.]

Re: thickness of alternator bracket

Dave,
Thanks for the photo. Mine is definitely an original, just like 825462 with stamped V & 3/16 to 7/32 thick.
Tim

[David L.]

Re: thickness of alternator bracket

Tim,

I just measured my NOS 3868882 brace as well as my original 63 Corvette w/AC & 63 Chevrolet 283/327 brace (GM # 3825463). Both braces measure 0.217" with a micrometer. As I remember I believe that the 63 Corvette brace (GM # 3825462) was the same thickness which also seems very logical.

If your brace measures about 7/32" (.219") and has the letter "V" I would say your brace seems to be an original. Years ago when I inspected the repro 63 Corvette it was noticeably thicker (possibly 0.25" or so) than my original braces. Also, the edges of the original braces are "rough" from some kind of stamping process, I assume, where the edges of the repro brace was almost "perfect".

Dave

[Joe L.]

Re: thickness of alternator bracket

Tim,



Also, the edges of the original braces are "rough" from some kind of stamping process, I assume, where the edges of the repro brace was almost "perfect".

Dave

Dave------


Yes, I expect the originals were die cut. This would be a cost-effective process for manufacturing the braces when they were being produced in large numbers for PRODUCTION requirements. The cost for the dies would have been relatively high but the per-unit manufacturing cost would be low, with the cost of the dies being amortized over a relatively large volume. In reproduction, the cost of the dies would be too great to justify based on a very small manufacturing run. Most likely, the original dies were either scrapped or wore out long ago. So, I expect the braces are laser cut. The difference in the edge appearance is a function of the die cut versus laser cut.

I've seen many reproduction fabricated steel parts such as brackets, braces, etc. which were obviously laser cut.