Everything I have seen on-line talks about a lower splash shield, which I do not see.

What I do see is that the last bolt is blocked by the frame from the radiator fans.

This is with the 2.7L engine.

Thanks for any help/advice anyone can lend!

 

Ok, I removed the bolts from the fan frame and managed to slide it *just* far enough towards the passenger side to let me remove the last bolt.
Time for a nice icy beverage and a 10 minute breather...

 

Well, I had to wait until I could get a prybar (mine disappeared since the last move, I guess) so now I have the alternator moving front to back, but the belt is gripping like a blarging vise.

I am trying to figure out how to arrange my fat meathooks to get the belt loosened, then I believe the alternator will slide out fairly easily.

This has been way more complicated than necessary. Access to peripheral equipment should be a greater concern at design time!

 

Ok, the unit is dismounted and out of the car. Now to take it to the local rebuild shop...

Fudge bunnies, there should be a better way to deal with all this!

 

By the way, to summarize, I moved the fan frame and did not dismount the radiator frame or the transmission cooler. I had to put the fan frame back to get to the tension pulley loose, and it took some alternator ballet to get it out of the frame, but I only cut myself once!

 

The alternator is back in, the bent case (my fault, or my son's) is straight, and the loose ground wire is restored.

Everything electrical is good, once again. We also had to run it to the local shop to have the cam and crank sensors replaced... more than I cared to do, not to mention I did not have a scanner to find the problem!

The car runs great... now for the problematic driver's window.

Y'all have fun