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Alternator on driver side??

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Old Aug 24, 2025 | 08:22 PM
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3gen's Avatar
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Alternator on driver side??

Hello, I apologize in advance for any errors in my understanding of this.

im swapping a motor and noticed that the ac compressor (passenger side) and alternator (driver side) are different from the original set up.

the wiring harness and ac lines look as if the alt, and comp. Are on the opposite sides.

is there a way to swap them back over or should I modify the wiring harness to reach over to alt, and compressor?

When I bought the car it didn’t have a motor so I don’t really have a point of reference.
The new motor is from an 89 Camaro 5.7. Im swapping into an 87 Kroc z28
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Old Aug 24, 2025 | 09:20 PM
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Car: 15 Ram, 88 IROC, 92 RS
Engine: 5.0
Transmission: Auto
Axle/Gears: 3.42 (4th Gen)
Re: Alternator on driver side??

86 and 87 were strange years for accessories. Partial v-belt, partial serpentine belt. Do you have the accessories from the 87? I much prefer the serpentine setup the 89 should have had, but you can extend the wires to the 87 if you need to
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Old Aug 24, 2025 | 09:28 PM
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Re: Alternator on driver side??

Originally Posted by ratfink6923
86 and 87 were strange years for accessories. Partial v-belt, partial serpentine belt. Do you have the accessories from the 87? I much prefer the serpentine setup the 89 should have had, but you can extend the wires to the 87 if you need to


I don’t, there wasn’t mush that came with the car.

my other question would be, would I worded AC lines from an 89? The current ac lines reach all the way to the driver side.
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Old Aug 24, 2025 | 09:36 PM
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Car: 15 Ram, 88 IROC, 92 RS
Engine: 5.0
Transmission: Auto
Axle/Gears: 3.42 (4th Gen)
Re: Alternator on driver side??

I believe you will need the 88-92 AC hoses. Be prepared for the AC line to be seized at the condenser if it's never been removed.
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Old Sep 2, 2025 | 03:09 PM
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Re: Alternator on driver side??

86 & 87 did not have a serpentine (snake-like) belt.

They DID have a wide flat ribbed belt, the same style of belt that's used in most modern "serpentine" systems, however; butt only one. But since that one isn't "snake-like", it isn't serpentine. It was the one for the alt & WP. The others were still V belts. There's no reason you can't use all V belts, if you can get those pulleys; they're FAR more common than the flat ribbed type anyway.

Prior to the introduction of the serpentine setup in these cars in 88, the alt was on the driver's side and the AC compressor on the pass side. You'd have to get the whole enchilada, every single piece, to swap it over. The most common serpentine accessory drive, in trucks, I don't think will fit these cars. You might be better off getting the drive system that the car was built for, rather than trying to change it over.
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