Low Mounting an Alternator on a 68 XR7 390

Cougar Community
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Does anyone here have any experience mounting an alternator on a 68 XR7 with a 390 in the low position? I am asking because the one wire alternator I purchased and installed in the normal high position is slightly deeper than a stock alternator and the back of the new alternator interferes with the 390 head. It works, but is not right. I have considered grinding the new alternator some to create some clearance between it and the 390 block, but am unsure if I can grind enough without damaging the new alternator.

I am now considering mounting the new alternator in the low position and have found a kit at: FORD FE LOW MOUNT ALTERNATOR MOUNTING KIT - Custom Replacement Automotive Products. I am sure the kit will bolt on, but I do not know if the alternator will hang so low that it interferes on the frame of the car.

Has anyone tried this low mounting on a 68 Cougar. Or even any advice at all on my problem?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

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The stock mounting for a 68 S code alternator is low, below the smog pump. That is how I have mine mounted but it is a stock alternator on stock brackets. Here is a photo from deadnutson

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I don’t know about the fit of that kit or aftermarket alternators but there are stock brackets for the low mount position. They are generally pretty spendy.

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All the 1968 Cougars that I have owned are low mount alternators. That’s where every 427 and 428 is.

Almost forgot about the X code - that one used the high mount because no smog pump.

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Didn’t the no smog Canadian spec 390 get the high mount?

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Thanks guys. I went to a Cougar rod run today with the Sunshine State Cougar Club here in Orlando. I saw another X Code 68 XR7. It had the alternator mounted in the low position. Looks like I will be acquiring a new set of brackets and reinstalling my alternator soon.

Thanks again.

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So my next question is: Does any one have the low mount bracket(s) that they would like to part with?

I have also been thinking about the high and low mount brackets. The ones that would be used on FE engines that never had a smog pump. Is the lower bracket for the high mount, the same bracket that would be used for the upper bracket for the low mount? The alternator would only have to be rotated down 180 degrees and a lower (tension) bracket be added for the bottom. Or am I just crazy?

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The Low and high mount brackets use all unique parts. None interchange with one another. The high mount is more common and used on just about any application that didn’t have a smog pump.

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1967 low mount FE alternator brackets are much cheaper.
You may also need to ‘re-clock’ the back of your alternator. Meaning split the two halves and rotate 180°, if not the wiring might bind or not reach.

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CougarCJ,

Do you know the part number for the lower tension bracket for a 1967?

And thanks for the advice on the re-clocking of the alternator as well.

Thanks.