I'm a big fan of trying not to do things more than once - if you have the radiator out its a good time to get it rodded if it hasn't been done recently. Hays Radiator on 20th St & Indian School is barely a stone's throw from you - easy preventative maintenance if its due.

$168.11, shipped, from Rock Auto for a new harmonic balancer, three drive belts and the alternator idler pulley that's been whining since the truck took a swim in the Gila River a couple of years back.

I still haven't been able to drill out the old bolt. I got a small pilot hole through, but following up with a 1/4" one is slow going.

Ryan, thanks for the tip on the radiator shop.

John B.

I'm pretty sure that Haye's Radiator disapeared from there about 15 years ago. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Anyhow, back to our regular scheduled prograqm <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

OOPS you're right. They moved around the corner from their old location. My bad! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/mrt.gif" alt="" />

I dropped off the radiator at Hay's. It should be ready by the end of the week. $90, not bad. Unfortunately, Matt over there said he wouldn't be able to practically move the upper mounting points down two inches for me, so I'll have to fab up a bracket myself.

Anybody know of an alternator rebuilder who can hop up my stock unit? I mean someone local.

I ordered a tap for the bolt hole on the front, a 14x1.5 from Grainger. By the time I actually get this bolt out, I'll be lucky if there's any threads left to straighten out.

Due to the very limited supply of left-hand drill bits around here, I ordered a set. A set of five was cheaper than buying 2-3 locally.

My other parts should be here on Thursday, so slow-going as it is, I should end up with a pretty solid set-up when I'm done.

John B.

Sounds like you're making some progress. Yeah, left handed drill bits are a "bit" rare. (couldn't resist). <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />
Anyhow, as far as alternator rebuilder: Gen-Star in Glendale. 6832 N. 63rd Ave. Ph: 623-939-2202. Been there forever.
Good luck w/ the removal.

I got what was called a thread follower when I did mine. I was told not to use a tap unless I was making hole larger. Follower is different from a TAP. It doesn't cut. Plus If you don't get tap just right it will ruin existing threads- just FYI <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

That's them! Thanks, Monte3.

BTW, The Professor took his Gen 2.5 to Badlands park near where he now lives. He put a short video on Facebook of him driving through a puddle of mud...yeehaw.

For all you newbies, The Professor is our own Mendel.

John B.

That's who I was going to recommend - I've been using them as a source for starter contacts for years. Far cheaper to replace the contacts than the entire starter.

Let me know how that rebuild/beef up goes on your alternator if you end up going that route. I would like to do the same soon eventually.

Mendels old truck lives on here in AZ. Clay tore the motor out and replaced just about every seal on the motor. Should be a good truck for lindsey, just have to get her to take it out and put some dirt on the tires now.

Good luck with all this JB, hopefully you can get that thing extracted soon. I guess on the bright side, you'll have replaced EVERY other part around it <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />. Let us know when you need reinforcements. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

I would/will, but it's kind of a lonely job. Once you get to drilling, you know where you're trying to get to. I'm not sure it would work so well with help. Maybe I'm wrong.

All I know is that I need the better bits that I had to order. The ones I bought did their best, but I'd say they're done for. No more ejecting slivers and not much dust on the end when I take it out to re-oil.

Toasty recommended that I replace my radiator instead of having it rodded out. I went against that, so at least I'm on record as having admitted he said so.

I'm curious what an alternator beef-up could do. It won't hurt to get new bearings at least.

I'm considering this an alternate-front-engine service, as I'm not ready to do a timing belt and associated parts, but I am taking care of the equally expensive external engine equipment. At least that's what I'm telling myself.

Guess I'm putting off 4.90's for a while...

John B.