Will the water pumps on a late '49-'53 Mercury Flat Head Engine tolerate the tight Tension?

Question

If switching to a 12-volt alternator, will the late '49 - '53 waterpumps tolerate the tighter tension needed by an alternator? Stock tension with a generator is 1/2 inch...

Answer 1

=if you are mounting the alt. up top where the generator is=it wont harm the water pumps=and a 1/2 inch belt deflection is about right anyway=i have seen many conversions to 12 volt with no problems developing down the road=do save the generator because the originals are getting harder to find all the time=

Answer 2

1/2 " is plenty for the alternator.. I would just use regular settings.