Have you ever heard of this?
 

I was driving down the street yesterday, and my car starts making this horrific hissing sound. I thought it was the fan clutch, but no...it was the alternator. No big deal with the alternator going out, but it would catch, and stop turning for a few seconds at a time. I have never seen anything like that before, thought I would share.

Sounds like the alternator bearing seized up. The problem is that your alternator shares belts with the water-pump, so you are not going anyplace until you replace the alternator.

Getting to that bottom bolt to remove the alternator is a swine of a job

???. I replaced one on my 77 a few weeks ago and didn't have any problem. Which bolt are you talking about?

If you take time to jack up the front end its easy too get to from underneath.

I had a BOSCH reman on a 123.123. The nut on the pulley backed itself off while heading up I-5. That was a surprise. Made no odd noise what so ever. I just happened to notice bizarre gauge behavior.