Thank you for your reply, Dennis.  Please excuse my error on case
versus head.  Right now, my Vanagon is grounded until I get the part
Stuart M suggested from Go Westy and have a chance to take things
apart and see extent of damage. May even call on my extra-price AAA
membership and have van taken to my VW mechanic rather than chance
further damage.

John

On Mon, 2015-06-01 at 17:41 -0400, Dennis Haynes wrote:
> The alternator bracket is held to the case, not the head. From the
> factory it was 2 studs and then nuts to hold the bracket in place.
> The usual cause of failure is the use of incorrect nuts along with
> cheap washers and improper torque. Then add a loose belt or bad
> alternator bearings and possibly a cheap alternator rebuild with an
> off balance rotor and the bracket will either crack or break the
> studs on the case. Next step is the case getting hammered so the
> bracket cannot mount properly. Some vendors offer a support bracket
> that can help. Proper fix will be to repair the threads using a heli-
> coil or welding may even be needed. Good studs P.C. 10.9 and matched
> nuts/washers.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of john
> Sent: Monday, June 1, 2015 8:44 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: '84 1.9, lower bolt on alternator mount
>
> I have not had to ask question on this list for months as failures
> since major work in 2003-2004 have been minimal. After hearing
> strange noise from belt that does alternator and water pump, I ttok a
> look at engine compartment and found that bolt that holds alternator
> bracket to right head had fallen out.  What size bolt is this?
>
> Thank you,
>
> John