Hi do the two bolts come out of the threads completely? If so then alls you need to do is leave them in and take top bolt out the it should be free

 

Did you take the tension off the serpentine belt first?

 

I have the front bolt out, and one of the other bolts is in a slot so it looks like I shouldn't have to remove it completely. The third bolt though, is in a hole in the alternator, and that's the one that hits the fire wall

Only the front bolt can be removed completely, the other two hit the firewall before the threads are clear (If you keep going you dent firewall, and start pushing the engine down).

I did remove the belt, so other than remembering how it's supposed to go back on, I should be good!

 

Before you go completely nuts, could the former owner(s) have modified the arrangement? Either a Chilton's type manual or looking at a similar vehicle would disclose that. I believe that Chevy was almost the same for about 5 years. Most had a 4cyl though.

 

Is it like this one?

 

What 6 cylinder engine is in it? is the Malibu just plain or what trim package does it have. Might help if you took some pictures and post them here

 

Looks like the Impala had more clearance.

 

Thank you all for the responses!
Sorry for not replying earlier, but things have been getting a bit hectic here, so the Malibu is on hold for a while.
Funny thing is, we've owned 2 Malibus, and both have been a pain.

 

CHEVY

Cheapest
Heap
Ever
Visualized
Yet​

 

 

I had a 2005 Malibu once.....only once,........ my best advice is remove it from your property and replace it with ANYTHING ELSE beside a Chevy Malibu
The electric power stering on those things is VERY DANGEROUS

 

Well talked to a friend who works on cars more than I do these days. He said that the way to do the alternator, is to hook a ratchet strap from the front of the car, and to the back of the engine and tighten it up til the engine tilts forward. Worked like a charm, alternator was swapped out in maybe 5 minutes max.
So the alternator is swapped with a new one, but now I am having issues with the security system. It starts, runs for about 3 minutes, then has the outline of a car, with a key overlaid on it on the dash, and shuts off.

 

Sounds like you stole your own car. Seriously, a short needs tracing.

 

I agree, but have to say the only time I have issues like that is with GM cars.

 

I'm looking at a 'jelly been' ford f150 now.. I have never had any luck at all with gm products. The 1st Malibu I had would burn out the pickup coil in the bottom of the HEI distributor.
I would be driving down the road, and the car would shut right off. It took about 3 times before I realized it was always that coil. (tows home and friends called). It was so bad that whenever I drove past a junkyard, I'd grab my multimeter and test, then buy the HEI that passed the test.
I got so good at swapping those distributors that it would only take maybe 3 minutes to change them, then we'd be going down the road again.
I sold the car to a friend, Who knew about the problem who then, sold to someone else, who installed a 454 (think), and I never had anything else to do with that Garbage Motor Car again.

 

Take a gander at this quite colorful Jelly Bean: Jason Torchia Built a Stunning 1999 Ford F-150, and it’s not Staying Stock!

 

Too bad its lowered that ruins it

 

Know what you mean. Many seem to love "low riders" down around Miami, FL and in Houston, TX. <shrug>

 

I remember funk......🕺

 

Brian Culbertson - Funk!

 

Brian Culbertson - Live in Las Vegas

 

Late, but I think we fixed the alternator issue. A friend and I spent a couple hours going through the wiring, and checking fuses etc. Turns out a fusible link at the starter had blown and was dangling loose, and would touch the exhaust, shorting the alternator. We replaced that, tied it up so it was nowhere close to the exhaust then took it for a test ride. It drove fine without having the charge light or security system kick in, so think we solved that issue.

The only other problem is that we drove into to town today, and I kept hearing a clicking noise ( Wife was driving) and I looked around to see what was up.and the door locks were randomly locking / unlocking for no reason at all that I could figure out.
The fix for that I decided was to tell my wife to keep the keys in her pocket. (we normally just drop them on the floor, or the door pocket)

Edit: I drove it into town yesterday to get dog food and a few other things. Problem is that every time I opened a door, the horn would start going off, and the only way to stop it was to slip the key in and start the car. Very Annoying!
I have started to hate Chevy/ GMC products. I told my wife if she ever brings another one home, she'd have to park it in the church lot on the corner (1 1/2 mile away) because I want nothing at all to do with it.

 

Good on ya