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Fiero LS4 swap alternator problem

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Old Nov 4, 2018 | 03:06 PM
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Default Fiero LS4 swap alternator problem

Hi Guys, I'm new here. I'm doing a 1988 Fiero LS4 engine swap and the shop that is doing called a couple of days ago and said that the alternator is hitting the Strut tower. I just wondered if any of you guys have run into this problem? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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Mike
mikebreece@gmail.com
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Old Nov 4, 2018 | 03:59 PM
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No offence but it sounds like you need to take the car to a real fab shop that builds custom cars.
A real shop would have called and said "hey, the alternator is hitting the strut tower - here are your options on fixing it. Which would you like us to take?" That is assuming they didn't already resolve the issue and were just giving you a call as an FYI.
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Old Nov 4, 2018 | 04:37 PM
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^^^ X2 what gofastwclass said. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
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Old Nov 5, 2018 | 07:14 PM
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It is commonly known in the Fiero world that the LS4 alternator has zero chance of clearing the strut tower in a Fiero, especially with an 88.

You have about 5 options

Notch the frame rail and mount it down low on the rear side of the engine (stock Fiero alternator location) - no one sells this bracket, so it must be custom fabricated. Here are 3 versions.




Cantilevered on the front top of the engine - word of caution, most people who start with this route, end up doing something different due to never ending belt squeal.


Delete A/C and run the alternator where the AC compressor is:
This version will not work with the stock LS4 water pump, so you will need to run an electric water pump setup.


Run an electrical water pump to free up room for the alternator and AC compressor to fit in the forward and lower position:


Lots of custom modifications to the stock LS4 water pump to mount everything down low and in front (this is the setup on my LS4/F40 swap).


If your shop hasn't done so yet, they need to read up on these build threads:
https://web.archive.org/web/20111204...LS4/index.html
http://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum3/HTML/000087.html

This one is for my LS4/F40 6 speed manual transmission swap in an 88 Fiero:
http://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum3/HTML/000123.html
The more condensed version:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversio...peed-swap.html
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