engine brackets for a 88 SBC (2 piece aluminum?)

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KRS1

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Hey guys, I have read that the 1 piece steel engine bracket has a tendency to crack (along the power steering pump mount). Although when I sandblasted mine I didn't find any cracks. I figure I might as well switch to a 2 piece aluminum bracket system to reduce the chances of this happening
I have some pieces already from a 2 piece system. It appears like I am missing the left side bracket etc..
Can I assume I should look for a 90-95 TBI donor bracket only? Any chance a 4.3 v 6 Vortec bracket would work? I am including a picture that shows all the components I have so far..
Thank you for your advice!

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skylark

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Hey guys, I have read that the 1 piece steel engine bracket has a tendency to crack (along the power steering pump mount). Although when I sandblasted mine I didn't find any cracks. I figure I might as well switch to a 2 piece aluminum bracket system to reduce the chances of this happening
I have some pieces already from a 2 piece system. It appears like I am missing the left side bracket etc..
Can I assume I should look for a 90-95 TBI donor bracket only? Any chance a 4.3 v 6 Vortec bracket would work? I am including a picture that shows all the components I have so far..
Thank you for your advice!

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90 and up V6 and V8 tbi brackets are what you need.
 

badco

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Some late 89s had aluminum brackets but mostly 90 and up all same, 88 and most 89 had the heavy steel ones. Seen a bunch of the steel ones break
 

KRS1

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I ended up going to a few junk yards and finding a TBI bracket setup (along with all the hardware etc)..
The real stumbling block was with the power steering pump. I assume you need to first attach the brackets to the engine and then "push on" the pump pulley etc. I had to "bash /cut" the yard pump quite a bit in order to gain access to the bolts to remove the bracket. What would be a good puller to use?

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Olds455

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I used the specific power steering puller available as a loaner from AutoZone. The PS puller grabs the little lip on the center of the pulley for removal. The tool also reinstalls the pulley. Well worth using the PS specific puller.
 

KRS1

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Hello Olds, yes I picked one up at "our Harbour Freight" aka Princess Auto for $25 CDN on sale...I wish I had bought one before I went to the yard! it would have made it so much easier! The pulley came off very easily. Anyways, here is a picture of the mocked up 2 piece aluminum brackets..

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evilunclegrimace

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Hey guys, I have read that the 1 piece steel engine bracket has a tendency to crack (along the power steering pump mount). Although when I sandblasted mine I didn't find any cracks. I figure I might as well switch to a 2 piece aluminum bracket system to reduce the chances of this happening
I have some pieces already from a 2 piece system. It appears like I am missing the left side bracket etc..
Can I assume I should look for a 90-95 TBI donor bracket only? Any chance a 4.3 v 6 Vortec bracket would work? I am including a picture that shows all the components I have so far..
Thank you for your advice!

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I had a steel one piece on my '88 K3500 for 30 years and over 250,000 miles and it never cracked. It is in the garage for the next engine I build. They either break or they don't it is not worth worrying about. It is not that big of a deal to fix/replace it if it does
 

Schurkey

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I had a steel one piece on my '88 K3500 for 30 years and over 250,000 miles and it never cracked. It is in the garage for the next engine I build. They either break or they don't it is not worth worrying about. It is not that big of a deal to fix/replace it if it does
My '88 has over 300,000 miles. The main steel bracket is fine. There's a smaller bracket that secures the PS that cracked and has been replaced; and I've seen other vehicles with that bracket broken as well.

The nut welded to the back-side of the tensioner pulley hole has broken-off; but it still allows the tensioner to be tightened to the main bracket, and the support strut going to the thermostat housing, to be secured. I threaten to tack-weld it back in place, but it's really causing no problems as-is.

I've seen photos of another smaller bracket that goes between the exhaust manifold and the alternator. I've never had that on my vehicle; I'm wondering if that's' something that got added in later model years.
 

PlayingWithTBI

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I've seen photos of another smaller bracket that goes between the exhaust manifold and the alternator. I've never had that on my vehicle; I'm wondering if that's' something that got added in later model years.
Maybe yours got lost? My 88 has 2 supports for the alternator, I had to modify the other ends for headers and the Edelbrock intake. I too have the steel auxiliary plates and haven't had any cracking...yet, ha ha.

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