Get a RHD, 5 minute job (without fighting bolts) to get the alternator out. Not that it helps your current situation.

 

that was me bro, as I have done it at least 10 times now, and its always been the alternator, and new brushes dont work either..so I got quick

however, alts on all my RHD '96s are sensibly mounted high, with A/C compressor low

Yours seems the other way around, which I admit would make me a bit reluctant as well

At least you have it sorted. I got 2 more spare used alts recently $25 each. keep our XJs on the road

I would have done it more than 10 times as the way I test the used ones is to install them in a vehicle

 

BTW, that heavy gauge black painted stamped steel bracket has SAE nuts, NOT schmetric holding it on. Plus two schmetric bolts.

Every freaking YouTube video of people removing an XJ alternator states the nuts are 15 mm. So I tried 15 mm but those rusty things just started rounding. I tried 14 mm open end side and got them off.

They are 9/16 hex and have SAE threads, not schmetric. HOWEVER, the two bolts that go through the bottom of the bracket seem to have schmetric heads.

Replaced the nuts with yellow zinc coated from Advance, cleaned up and reused the bolts. Nickel anti-seized all of that, as well as the other mounting fasteners. Big gob of dielectric grease on each connector/mounting stud for the wiring harness.