Alternator location

So I ran through quite the puddle the other day. ended up costing me a couple hundred dollars due to the alternator being pretty low in comparison with the air box intake and the type of waterish clay it was.

I think next time I might just go to another alternator from the wrecker as I could have bought two with the cost of fixing this one unit.. but that begs the question..

CAN THE ALTERNATOR BE MOVED TO A HIGHER POSITION?

From what I see there is room if a second pully and bracket mimicking the stock alternator. The other option would be to run it over on the other side of the motor under the intake. I really just want to bring it up another foot and maybe make a spash shield for it. This would also be the time to upgrade to either a 250amp alternator or a different brand that handles mud/water better.

Thoughts and opinions are welcome but do not tell me not to drive through the puddles as this was a nice forest service road up until this spot and I dont want something like that to stop my truck as it was fully capable of making it otherwise.

PFA

 

Anything can be done given enough time and money.

 

From what I can see the only major thing thats stopping the alternator from being put 6" to 12" higher in the engine bay and substantially easier access is the oil filter and oil fill. I honestly wonder if parts from the 4runner or FJ setup would allow for this as they have the same block but a different head set. Or does anyone have a better solution at making the contacts not so vulnerable to clay mud.

 

That's some puddle.

 

Hi Tyler,
Looks like a great fishing lake! Is that one of the chain lakes above Lumby? Truck is looking good.
Cheers

 

It was really quite the little pond lol.. part swamp but crossing the road. I wish I could link a video of people trying to go through it.

Thanks. I am still making progress on the truck as it goes along. VERY GOOD FISHING!! lol. 2-3 lb trout all day on the fly rod. That is Scuitto lake just south of kamloops.
<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?p...cuitto+Lake!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sca!4v1465584727933" width="600" height="450" frameborder="0" style="border:0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

which years are you thinking as the new 4runner and FJ motor that runs duel VVTI does not have the filter mounted in the same position. 2009 and up I believe. Fifth generation design. It has a cartridge filter down below instead of the oil filter up top. less mess but you have to pull the skid plates every time.

Honestly I dont mind either way as I will be taking my 4.0 out in a couple months to put in a 4.6 and honestly just thinking of solutions for this unit.

 

It is different in the 5th gen when they released the duel vvti and that viper looking front end. thats the one I am talking about. but.... this was intended to be a think tank for people to be able to access the alternator easier and keep it higher for those who take their offroading a little more seriously lol.
For me... my issues started in what looked like a "puddle"

 

My puddle was not really water but more clay mud. Maybe its just me lol.... I got unlucky for sure.

 

I killed my starter the first time I swamped the ole girl.


As for an alternate location for the alt. I'd have to look but you might be able to do a remote oil filter set up to gain that 6" to 12" of clearance. I've flooded my truck 3 times til the floorboards were soaked and have yet to have to replace the alternator, maybe it was just bad luck? I don't know if you'll find one that handles water better. It'll find a way in and do it's dirty work but a splash shield sounds doable. Still, that's a pretty tight space to get a full tsunami of water/mud into the alternator. The fan shroud and fan are pretty good at blocking stuff coming up and as long as you have your flaps in the wheel wells you should be pretty well protected.

 

So your telling me I got really lucky with my starter. Good to know lol. Good point about the remote oil filter. That might just work. I will pull the bracket next oil change to see what's behind it. The full tube is the only other thing in the way but we all know that's easy to move.
I wonder if the alternator could handle a half wrap metal guard to block mud directly. I know a bracket and a pully or two with extra belt length is easy. Just thinking about the connectors as well. Hmmm... things to work on.
Hopefully someone takes this cheap idea on.

 

so apparently you reminded me that I Forgot to check about the mud flap that I had to pop off to access the side bolt for the bracket attached to the alternator.

Thank you lol.