[165th]

Steve, the alternator and engine compartment look stunning. What is the date of your alternator, it's not quite visible in the picture?

Are all '72 alternators are open face? I know by '73 they were closed face.

[njsteve]

April 5, 1971. This is the 55 amp, 1100928 alternator. This model was for the cars with either a/c or rear window refogger. The cars that had both a/c and defogger had a larger alternator that was in a fixed position and used the idler pulley setup.

[70RAlll]

The metal plating on the pulley and the fan, let me guess... silver zinc?? I ask this because they look nice, but I have always noticed the extra shiney look of zinc vs cadmium... GM still used Cadmium until late,late 72 into 73 when the EPA issued one of their 1st orders which effectively banned cadmium's widespread plating use to only use by aeronautical plating.. Your alternator looks great.. Someone asked about open face vs closed face.. The 928/927 series were used on many cars. I have seen some with open face anmd some without.. My guess is the "performance" cars got the open face and the non performance cars got the closed face.

Also, FWIW... the original alternator fans were galvanized zinc plated, not zinc or cadmium.. I have tried 6 different galvanized platers and none can make the fans work, all of the turns/bends make the zinc( that is what galvanizing is) clump up. Originally these were stamped out of sheets of galvanized metal. Ever seen the metal poles in the electrical dept. of home depo? the galvanized poles with the small discolored irregular shapes? yes, that is what the original fans were plated with. I have 2 original ,NOS in the box fans and they have this finish. Plus, every original fan I have taken off an altenator, under the pully ,in the protected area, still have remenants of this galvanizing.. The dullness of white cadmium, comes as close to the original as you will get..
NJsteve....I have a stack of original alternator fans that I have had done this way. If you want to swap out your fan for one of the ones I have( it will look more original), just let me know.. I will be glad to send you one and if you like it, send me back your original..

Just my thoughts on alternator fans and pulleys.. Plus... the nuts should be cadmium also...Steve, I have some already plated also you can have.,..

[njsteve]

Quite right on the metal plating choice. No one plates with cadmium any more because it tends to kill people. Look at the recent news about Chinese-produced charm bracelets for (our) kids. The Chinese were told that there was too much lead in the metals they were making kids toys out of previously, so they stopped using the lead and started using cadmium - up to 95% by weight, of cadmium - that's more poisonous than wearing a plutonium necklace!

I'll be happy to take you up on the offer. I can swap out with whatever I have. Also, aren't there several designs of fan blades differentiated by the number/size of fins?

[70RAlll]

Originally Posted by njsteve

Quite right on the metal plating choice. No one plates with cadmium any more because it tends to kill people. Look at the recent news about Chinese-produced charm bracelets for (our) kids. The Chinese were told that there was too much lead in the metals they were making kids toys out of previously, so they stopped using the lead and started using cadmium - up to 95% by weight, of cadmium - that's more poisonous than wearing a plutonium necklace!

I'll be happy to take you up on the offer. I can swap out with whatever I have. Also, aren't there several designs of fan blades differentiated by the number/size of fins?

Yes, the main problem with Cadmium is that it steralizes employees working around it(ouch !!) chemical castration !! But, the EPA still allows a handful of companies to use cadmium. It is still mandated for aero use because scientist haven't found anything better for rust prevention. One of the EPA's 1st orders(recall it was Nixon that signed the EPA into law) was to regul;ate the usage and disposal of cadmium. Anyway, so there is a handful of companies that still use cadmium-mostly platers for aero engine rebuilders. You see somany zinc platers advertising cadmium plating, but if you press them if it is real cadmium or zinc, you will get the zinc answer. As long as you don't grind on it and breath in dust, or eat it(as kids do with anything) you will be ok.Yes, I have seen 2 different fan blade configurations on Pontiacs. The earlier one(which Corvettes and Camaros used) is rarely seen. EMail me directly at [email protected] and give me your address. I will send you one and a nut that has been plated. You can send me yours back after you decide you like the cad plated sheen better than the zinc.. you will.. I will just do an even trade.. no charge..

[70RAlll]

Also, the blades I have all came off of late 72 or early 73 '928 alternators. I have a half dozen 927,928 and one 902 alternators. Only a couple are early 70's the others are 72-73 dates.. SO I am sure I have the correct fan..

[njsteve]

Thanks...Oh, and I changed the temporary mudflaps to some plain black ones and created some blacked out clips to hold them in place without damaging the paint. ;-)