V-6. I disconnected the tie-rod at the joint and was able to remove the alternator. I set up the bracket and then put the alternator back into positon, I thought. i have the adjustment bolt in Place but I can't seem to get the flange on the top to line up so that I can finish bolting up the alternator and hook up the electrical connectors. Once I get that accomplished, i can have it bolted back up in 30 minutes.
I probably wouldn't be so Ticked off except that a friend of mine and i just replaced what we believe to have been the original unit only 2 weeks ago. Today, he wasn't available.
I have been there and done that. I have two V6 Fiero auto's so I have done this job 4-5 times now. And my luck was worse. Yours lasted two weeks? That's nothing. Mine lasted all of 10 minutes after I just put it in there. Typically this is about a 3 hour job if you're good at it. Its a 4 hour job if your a rookie. By the way, it does help if you get alternator in first, rest it on the cradle, install alternator bracket and then position and bolt up the alternator. (in this sequence) Even more helpful is to upgrade to the CS series alternator as described in Ogre's Cave. Just make sure you order an alternator for an 88. Kit
I had heard how hard they are to replace. I have to replace my 2.8 when I bought it due to a blown engine. Directly swapped in another 2.8, but made sure to put a brand new alternator on the engine before dropping it in
he best method I found was to lower it down to the floor and recover it from the rear to install I placed a piece of string from the top at the trunk and fed the other end through the top hole in the alternator then I climbed in to the trunk and hauled the alternator up till I could hold it in my hands and then removed the string and bolted in place
The alternator and bracket are pulled and reinstalled as a unit.
Takes about an hour........
I had to do it that way on mine the first time, since the upper bolt was broken off (or seized?) in the bracket. Mine's an '88 though so at least the alternator is a tiny bit smaller than the earlier SI versions.
Raise the rear of the car and remove the wheels on both sides. Unbolt the swaybar endlinks on both sides and swing the swaybar up. This will give a little more room. Disconnect the rear suspension lateral link at the passenger-side knuckle and swing it down and out of the way. This gives a little more room. Now there's plenty of room for the '88 alternator and bracket to come out. You'll have to turn it various different ways to get it out but it will come. I don't remember if it was easier to have the bracket come first, or the alternator.
Keep in mind that's on an '88 with automatic. The 85-87 V6 of course has different suspension.
The second time I had to do it, I timed myself. One hour, start to finish.
he best method I found was to lower it down to the floor and recover it from the rear to install I placed a piece of string from the top at the trunk and fed the other end through the top hole in the alternator then I climbed in to the trunk and hauled the alternator up till I could hold it in my hands and then removed the string and bolted in place
takes longer to explain this than doing the job
jon
Glad you sped that up by eliminating the punctuation.
It amazes me to hear how much trouble everyone is having replacing an alternator on an automatic car. I changed out the alternator on an 86 SE V6 in about a half hour. Disconnected the dogbone, and put a scissor jack in between the two mounting points. Used it to pivot the engine toward the firewall, and the alternator came right out through the top. I had to finesse it a bit to get it past the transmission, but it was nothing really major.
so do i i made a custom bracket to keep belt tight.
Your kidding right. ---- Rodney and Dodge Runner make an idler pulley and Rodney makes a reinforcement bracket for the alternator. Both easy to find by using the search feature.
I'm sure the gurus here know of a better way than what I did.
Typically this is about a 3 hour job if you're good at it. Its a 4 hour job if your a rookie. 
By the way, it does help if you get alternator in first, rest it on the cradle, install alternator bracket and then position and bolt up the alternator. (in this sequence)
