Got a squeal. It started last year, and I thought "oh, maybe just the belt". Belt is new, tightening it didn't help. Kinda goes away after the engine is hot (haven't been able to test that too much). Alternator works great. Starts to squeal as you give it a little and then stops around 2500 ish.

I still have to make sure it isn't associated with the 123distributor but if it is the alternator, what are my options? Looks like a rebuilt is around 250. Are they reliable?

Current rebuilds including Bosch are often garbage. I have a great local rebuilder and can get you one for $150 plus shipping and your core. I think i have one on the shelf. If not I will drop one off today as I like to have them ready.

That sounds great. I will pm you. I hate putting something like that on it and then have it go bad.

Is the car running carbs? Just had this issue and the carb stack needed tightening down as air was getting through --- sounded like a chipmunk.

This thread was useful
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=366666

Sadly, no, I have injection. It really is a bearing sound (and nasty). Checked the distributor as best I could but it really does sound like it's coming from the alternator.

pull the belt and start/drive..no noises= found your issue
it ok to run off battery around the block to diagnose your issues

I will do that after work today.

IIRC running the engine with the belt not connected is a no no

Double check,

My cranial cavity is getting filled

It's fine for a little bit. Happens all the time when a belt breaks.

Just tried it all the way loose, no squeal. Tighten it up so she is spinning and it squeals. Sigh. Didn't want to replace this.

on a -6... taking the belt off or losing the belt will stop the fan from cooling.
On a 4cylinder cooling will still occur

Just a thought - check to see if the heater fan is on - these squeal really bad when they get dirty or rusty

Low probability, however, it got me once before when the handle was down and the switch was broke.

Yeah, I was hoping but no, it was cold this morning so I was playing with the heater.

Can be swapped out from the bottom, a little tight but doable

I have been studying the howto in the 914world stickies. Doesn't look fun, but looks doable. I just wish it had told me it was unhappy before I put the engine back together. Oh well. Thank God for all the old posts on 914world. Again, we need to make sure this resource is not lost like foureyedpride.com. This information is irreplaceable and I pity the person trying to to fix one of these without access to the wisdom left here by those before me.

Here is the video. Opinions? I still have dreams it's just the belt.

https://youtube.com/shorts/7uKmyZ8UJck?si=FShgmkwvrS0Iw9F8

If I recall it's about an hour job. Last time I did it was just getting ready heading to an event a couple hours away. Got it done and I was on my way. I do recall a bit of pressure to "force " it in there

Running with out a battery is a No No for sure

Just swapped out the belt with another I have, no difference. Looks like it's replacement time.

Is there a backup in your parts inventory

or a local rebuilder

bdstone914 has a rebuilder that I am using.

Went through this about 6 months ago...not the easiest job as the car was on ramps—but doable. Would have been cake if I had a lift.

Click to view attachment

LESSON LEARNED: The key thing was removing the left front piece of cooling tin:

Click to view attachment

I think it’s referred to as “cover plate for engine, front driver side." In addition to the fasteners visible in the engine compartment, there are a couple of cheese-head screws that have to be removed from underneath (note the holes in the tin at the right side of the photo). Once all of the fasteners are removed, this cover plate is lifted up and out from INSIDE the engine compartment.

With that piece out of the way, the alternator is removed and replaced from underneath, in front of the engine bar. For the install, the alternator went back in from underneath. The hex head bolt (top) went in from the front; the square “toothed” nut took a couple tries, but I was finally able to get in place over the top of the alternator. Fitted the lower part of the alternator housing into the mounting bracket, then the plastic ring goes on the front of the alternator. The alternator’s front cover plate goes on from underneath, and the long D-headed bolt goes in from the front.

Having that front cover plate off made fitting and tensioning the belt a lot easier too.

Hope this helps!

Steve A-

That's a good write up Steve. I remember swapping out an alternator once while still in the 914. Doable for sure, just takes some time.

At least you know what the noise is now.

Yeah, and now the alternator will be a power adder! I am sure that bad bearing was pulling at the old motor something terrible.

I swapped out my original alternator last Fall. I was dreading it even though I have a MAXJAX 2 post lift. I took my time and spent about 2 hours taking it out 1 night and another couple of hours putting new one back in the following night. I am sure I could do it quicker now, but this felt like a relaxed pace.

There was a thread on the forum with a step-by-step description, but it seemed much easier because there were no HE's installed or heater ducts. I had to re-familiarize myself with the heating equipment as I had not dug into it since assembling the car 30 years ago, so that added some time in the beginning.

I also struggled with the cooling air elbow. First I didn't realize there was an internal spring wire holding it into the engine fan case, and then when I installed the new elbow I received from 914rubber, it seems to be the wrong size for my year and the boot would not secure to the fan case opening too well. I kept messing with that to get to a point I felt it would stay secured.

It was very helpful to not be on a time line for completion so I could be relaxed about the whole process.

Thanks for the information. I have looked at that excellent write up and slapshots video. Gonna take it slow and not rush, it looks like the most frustrating bits are really if you are in a hurry.

Well, replaced the alternator this morning. Dude. If you don't have heat exchangers it would be the simplest thing ever. If you do and part of them includes a custom high performance campbells soup can, it's a pain.

So much better. The old one was very crunchy and actually difficult to turn by hand it was so bad.

Thanks @bdstone914 the core is on the way. I didn't use the included bag of parts so that is still complete.