Thread: Why are brackets so expensive?

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I have been looking for AC and alternator brackets, and it makes me sick how expensive these things are.

Zoops, March, Billet Specialties, Alan Grove, etc. all want a fortune for brackets.

For example, A chrome 1-wire GM alternator is about $120 (Jeg's), and they charge $195 for the bracket!

thats why i refuse to buy that garbage, yes I know they have to figger all that crap out & its a lot of trail & error, BUTTTTTTTTTT after selling so many the cost of doing all of that work is paid for... so I'm a cheap S.O.B. an only use the stock brackets for everything, wether its a V-belt or serpentine set up. they all can be made to shine and ya know the parts can be found at just about any BONEYARD.

as for the 1 wire alternators, ya they're nice too, but have ya ever try to find one when yours has broke when going to a show or even out for a cruz. I think I'll just keep my "I can get it at ANY parts store" alternator..... but then thats just "ME", cause i'm a cheap b@stard too ........joe

If you price new factory brackets, you will find they are about the same price as the aftermarket variety. In addition if the stock brackets won't work for your application, you have to modify them. For a guy doing his own car, that's fine, but for those having the car built by someone else, the aftermarket brackets are much cheaper that paying for one off parts.

Some of the junkyard stuff is getting hard to find, particularly for the short waterpump versions, particularly big blocks, they only used them a few years.

I just did a new alternator bracket for a 500 Caddy in a 47 chevy pickup, the owner had to pay for four hours labor plus powder coating. If there had been a bracket available that would do the job, even $100 for that bracket would have been cheaper.

if the good ol stock bracket ain't whatcha lookin fer ...its a long shot but ya probebly know a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy that could probebly make a custom one.... kinda like STREETS said .i've made everything from idle speed adjusting brackets to fan shrouds.someone you know might have the right tools for the job ......just make sure ya hookem up with some beer or whatever

I am not made of money. $100 more here and $50 more there just puts off my completion date even more.

Hey streets, since we determined that I am a Ford man in another thread, you are already aware of some of my difficulties.

I am trying to achieve a setup where the alternator is on the driver's side and the AC compressor is on the passenger's. My condensor inlet/outlets are on on pass. side, and I want to route the hoses through the firewall on the pass. side. Having the compressor on that side will minimize the amout of hose and make for a cleaner look. I also want to mount them as low as possible so that you can actually see the engine.

Most all kits (for all makes) have the AC mounted high above the valve covers. I know there are depth issues, but I there some other reason for this? Doses the compressor have to be mounted high above the heat to work properly?

I already have the AC condensor mounted in front of the radiator, and the inlet/outlet come out on the pass. side. There is very little room between the radiator and engine, though. I will be having to use a SVO short water pump in order to fit an electric fan in there.

I have never seen an AC compressor run off of an electric motor in a street rod. I'd like to see that.

For the alternator, are you suggesting that it can be mounted facing the crank pulley on the same axis? That would definetely be unique. I don't have enough room for that anyway.

You would think that there would be more demand for a setup like this since so many folks go for the clean exterior look. I guess most car guys like to have as much shiny stuff as possible under the hood.


Does anyone visit the Project 33 website? That guy (Scooter) has a similar setup to what I want to achieve.

My whole car would be a "conversation piece".