The best photographers will always tell you that to hedge your bet that you'll get the best shot possible, you should always bracket your exposures. What this means is that you take one shot at what you think is the correct exposure and then take two more, one a little darker and one a little lighter. This really doesn't have much to do with hot rods and customs but when it came time to take a look at some different engine accessory brackets for a tri-power-equipped GM Performance Parts 502ci big-block we've been working on we felt it might be interesting to compare some of them.
Anyone that has swapped an engine in a street rod knows that things get crowded pretty quick. If you're building a '50s or '60s car, you have a few more options because in most cases, the engine bays are rather large and can accommodate almost anything. Even so, the very nature of this hobby is that we all like what we like and even though it may not be what the other guy likes, so what. Because of this several companies have designed A/C, alternator and power steering brackets that fit the need for all of us.
First things first, this comparison is not intended to suggest that one system is better than another. Each one chosen solves a particular need or style. They all work just as intended and mount the components solidly. As it worked out they are also on three different pricing levels.
On the economy end, we chose a low-profile set from Alan Grove Components. These brackets are designed to work with a long water pump and mount the A/C compressor and alternator outside the valve covers. The brackets come boxed individually and in pieces along with a bag of the needed fasteners. The only finish available for these brackets is bare steel. This gives you the choice of painting them to match your engine, or if so desired, finding someone to chrome them.
In the middle, we called Bill's Hot Rod Company and ordered a set of their brackets. The only system they offer for a big-block is designed for short water pumps and mounts the components inside the valve covers over the intake. You do have a choice of finishes: They are available in chrome, black powdercoated, or bare steel (for the budget minded). We've been to their shop and watched them prepare their brackets for shipping so we weren't surprised when ours came pre-assembled and very carefully wrapped to protect the chrome.
On the top end, we have Vintage Air's Front Runner system. If you're looking for something that is going to wow the crowd as soon as you pop the hood, this will get you there. The compressor, alternator, and power-steering pump are all neatly grouped at the front of the engine and run off a serpentine belt. The system uses a type II GM PS pump, which is not included so we called one of Vintage Air's largest dealers, Detroit Speed and Engineering, and ordered one from them.
We're not going to show every step in installing these systems, each one comes with easy-to-follow instructions that even we could understand; but we will highlight some of the procedures.
The Vintage Air Front Runner...
The Vintage Air Front Runner system came packed neatly in two boxes. The smaller pieces were vacuum packed to help protect them. A Stewart high-performance short water pump (not shown) came with the kit.
The majority of the system...
The majority of the system mounts off the water pump mounting points. The first step was to install these four threaded studs and then slide the new water pump on. These spacers are used to provide a flat area for the main bracket to mount against.
The A/C compressor and the...
The A/C compressor and the alternator are bolted onto the main bracket before it is installed. They each fit snugly, which makes a nice compact package.
Power steering is an option...
Power steering is an option and if it will be used this mounting bracket is installed onto the lower drivers side of the engine.
The main bracket assembly...
The main bracket assembly was then slid onto the water pump studs as a unit.
The serpentine belt requires...
The serpentine belt requires a tensioner to keep the belt tight so we installed this bracket. Each of the aluminum spacers and the PS bracket have a shoulder milled onto each that seats into the back side of the bracket for a positive feel.
When it came time to install...
When it came time to install the pulley on the power steering pump, Vintage Air suggests using the proper tool. We didn't have one and we bet neither will you. Basically what you need to do is use a bolt with the proper thread and a couple of large washers and then CAREFULLY tighten it. You will have to remove the bolt several times to add more washers because it will bottom out before the pulley is properly seated. We also used a round piece of solid steel wrapped in a rag stuck between the pulley spokes to keep it from turning. Go very slowly and keep checking the alignment with the crank pulley to make sure you don't go too far. If you do, you will need to buy or borrow the right tool to pull it back. This worked for us but if you can find a way to do it with the proper tool, by all means do it.
Here's what you are looking...
Here's what you are looking for. Use a straight edge and make sure the pulleys line up perfectly.
You need to use a 3/4-inch...
You need to use a 3/4-inch racket on the belt tensioner to release pressure while you install the belt.
You can't get much more compact...
You can't get much more compact than that. Without the PS pump, it's no wider than the engine. With the pump it's only a couple of inches wider on the drivers side.
Here it is from the side....
Here it is from the side. Nothing really sticks out further than the front of the water pump.
This is actually how the Bill's...
This is actually how the Bill's Hot Rod Company bracket came out of the box--fully assembled with all the fasteners in the correct spots.
They even wrap the threads...
They even wrap the threads of the stainless bolts with tape and plastic tubing to protect them. The extra washers are supplied to ensure the brackets will work with a variety of components.
The bracket uses the front...
The bracket uses the front intake manifold mounting points to secure the rear of the bracket. The height varies depending on the manufacturer of the intakes, so some of the spacers might need to be used. Bill's supplies the proper measurements so you can tailor them to your components. We were using a factory Corvette tri-power intake, which required four of the washers.
There's not much to show on...
There's not much to show on the install because it came assembled. We just removed the top two water pump bolts and the two front intake bolts and replaced them with the supplied stainless bolts when we mounted the bracket. Once installed, the compressor and alternator are high and tight. Power steering brackets are also available although we didn't install one here.
From the side there's still...
From the side there's still clearance for the valve covers. This system creates a clean look by keeping everything compact.
The Alan Grove brackets came...
The Alan Grove brackets came just like this, boxed separately. Also shown here is a power steering bracket that we didn't install because we didn't have a pump to show it properly. Each bag contains all the fasteners and instructions.
The assembly went smoothly...
The assembly went smoothly even if it seemed we might need a third hand a few times to hold the bolt, spacer, and bracket.
When they were installed,...
When they were installed, the compressor and alternator were firmly mounted well outside the valve covers. This system would be too wide for most pre-War street rods but would work fine in anything after that. This system is for long water pumps but they offer ones for short pumps as well.
Here it is from the side....
Here it is from the side. There's still plenty of room to remove the valve covers without removing the alternator or compressor.