If you want to make real power, you need headers on your Small Block Chevy. And big power creates lots of strain on parts.
Changing to headers requires that you find another way to mount your alternator. Since about 1969, Chevy and aftermarket heads have all included accessory boltholes on their forward surfaces providing a convenient place to hang these accessories. But how are you going to mount your alternator if you run vintage '50's or '60's heads with headers?
For the last 55 years, the manufacturers have provided us with a mass-market produced, thin piece of stamped 3/16" (typically now Chinese or Taiwanese) steel, add the cutout and holes (or even worse, "half holes"), and then stamp angles into it. The process of stamping the plate then distorts both the thickness, leading to varying width across the metal, and the shape of the holes that typically elongate in the process.
While the angles may make it a bit easier to attach the rear mounting bolt for the lower alternator bracket, they compromise the strength and integrity of the header bracket because they induce a flex as the offset bend stretches out like an accordion bellows. Couple that with the flex in the area around the header pipe that actually holds the bracket to the engine, and it is easy to understand why your alternator tweaks out of alignment causing your belt to squeal when you pull up on cruise night and rev your engine. (How embarrassing!)
THE SOLUTION THE HEADER POWER BRACKET > Strength and Precision
The Header Power Bracket is plasma cut on a CNC machine from full 1/4" (versus 3/16") AMERICAN STEEL. The additional thickness of the steel adds extra strength to the Chevy alternator bracket.
The CNC process results in closer tolerances leading to a better fit, and the bracket design results in more metal bearing against critical stress points. Additionally, there is no stamping involved that results in distortion of the metal.
Extended Left-Side Bracket (Prototype)
While the Header Power Bracket was designed for vintage Chevy heads, it works with all traditional-design Chevy and aftermarket heads, including those with forward boltholes. Why clutter the front of your nice aftermarket heads with a bunch of brackets? This may just be the first header-mount system that you will use because you want to and not because you have to.
