Here's my situation: I have a 96 non-vortec 454 crate motor. When I bought it, the accessory brackets were out of alignment, and washers were stacked up between the block and brackets and components, and it was eating a belt about every couple hundred miles. I managed to get brackets from a 91 k5 with a 350, and got the Kwik Performance spacers to put them on the big block. Passenger's side is on, and everything lines up well. I'm getting ready to install the driver's side, but the existing CS 144 alternator is way too big. So I'm left with a choice of spending the money on an adapter bracket from a Caprice police package, if I can find one, or swapping the CS144 for the newer AD 244 style alternator, which I am told will bolt in to the bracket.
The CS 144 works fine, and is fairly new (about three years). I would prefer to keep the CS144 and not have to change any wiring, but haven't been able to dig up a bracket that will work. Are there any advantages or disadvantages to either of these alternators or the mounting system that anyone can shed some light on before I make a decision? If I go for the AD244, will actually fit in the bracket I have, which is part #10118701, without any mods? Is it really superior to the CS144, or is it just newer...although if it fits the bracket I have, that would be enough to swap as far as I'm concerned. I believe there was a CS 130 in the bracket before. Here's some photos of the brackets and alternator.

The CS 144 works fine, and is fairly new (about three years). I would prefer to keep the CS144 and not have to change any wiring, but haven't been able to dig up a bracket that will work. Are there any advantages or disadvantages to either of these alternators or the mounting system that anyone can shed some light on before I make a decision? If I go for the AD244, will actually fit in the bracket I have, which is part #10118701, without any mods? Is it really superior to the CS144, or is it just newer...although if it fits the bracket I have, that would be enough to swap as far as I'm concerned. I believe there was a CS 130 in the bracket before. Here's some photos of the brackets and alternator.


