It is very important for that lower alternator bolt to be properly
tightened. If you can adjust the belt without loosening it, it is probably
too loose. Give up the carriage bolt and use a P.C. 10.9 bolt, nut and
washer. Yes washers also come in differing grades. As for the bracket studs,
the nuts should match the grade of the stud.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
pickle vanagon
Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2012 12:15 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: warning regarding GoWesty alternator bracket kit

GoWesty makes this nice kit to beef up the alternator bracket connection:
http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=4454&category_id=&category_par
ent_id=

The carriage bolt that comes with the kit seems to be a very low grade.  I
stripped the threads on mine very easily.  And multiple people at thesamba
have had issues as well:
http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=4454&category_id=&category_par
ent_id=

(GoWesty was very nice about replacing my bolt but said the hardness was not
an issue even though it was perhaps only class 4.8 or so, since the bolt
"doesn't need to be very tight".  I don't like this perspective.)

Anyways, I think the bracket seems like a very good idea overall (and you
should get one *before* your studs break, not after) but I would recommend
using a different bolt.  Either you can scrap the carriage bolt and use
whatever you already have straight through with a nut, or, the hardest M8
80mm carriage bolts I found were 8.8; fastenal has them.  If anyone finds
10.9 let me know!  I doubt they exist, unfortunately...

When I replaced this not-hard-enough bolt, I replaced the nuts on my
alternator bracket studs with 10.9 versions at the same time since I'm not
sure what was already there was the correct hardness.  Just wanted to report
that if you have some funny wrenches then this can be done without
disturbing the coolant pipe that appears to be in the way.

-Wes