Alternate Alternator?
 

Hey Guys, Quick easy Question for ya's:

I have a 1971 blazer, stock 350, 4x4, manual steering, old school externally regulated alternator.

My alternator seems to be charging high, (17v on 2 diff testers -- at the battery), fried my battery, so I want to go to nappa /partsource today and buy a new battery and alternator.

Now I'm all about stock, but good easy power is more important -so the old alternator and regulator are going in the 'return to stock box' and I am asking the BOard for some of their awsome advice:


Can you point me in the direction of a '1 wire' alternator, that puts out higher amps, that will bolt up to the same brackets on my 350?

What would be most helpfull would be if someone could post a part number OR tell me what vehicle /year/motor combo would have the alternator I want.

One caveat: I am not rich, so please do not point me in the direction of 200amp, chromed bosch lol --- All I want is to run dual batteries(maybe), mild stereo, and a couple fog lights,

Thanks in advance for you advice!

Re: Alternate Alternator?
 

Read through this one:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=415738

Re: Alternate Alternator?
 

Do you have a local shop that rebuilds alternators and starters? If so, take your alternator to them and tell them you want it converted to a one-wire internally regulated style. They can also wind it so that it puts out 100 amps. My local shop charged me $100 to do this.

Re: Alternate Alternator?
 

These guys have some pretty good stuff.
http://www.madelectrical.com/catalog/alt-1.shtml

Re: Alternate Alternator?
 

I would go to the local pick-a-part and get a newer CS style alternator from a mid 90s gm vehicle and do the conversion. It's rated at over 100amps and has much better output at idle. It runs cooler and works better. The only thing to remember is to get the plug and about a foot of harness with it. It runs the serpentine pulley but the v- belt is just a remove and replace fix.
here's the conversion.

...http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/zma...ternator01.htm

Re: Alternate Alternator?
 

You can find lots more online, but you don't want an actual 1-wire, as you'd lose your idiot light or ammeter gauge. Get the modern CS style (mine was for Camaro with air), upward of 100 amps. Internally regulated but still has the sense/reference line so your gauges will work.

Re: Alternate Alternator?
 

I put an alt from an 86 Silverado on my stock 350. Alt puts out 94 amps and is internally regulated. It was a three wire hook up so my ammeter gauge still works. There is a great write up on it in the FAQ that I followed from Toddtheodd. He nailed it and mine is working great. Cost me $80 from autozone with the wire connector and it is lifetime gauranteed.

Re: Alternate Alternator?
 

A cs with mounts at 6 & 12 o'clock is a bolt in just change your pulley. You need one that has the plug that will connect 12 volts to the field. Some Donor vehicles had idiot lights and will only work with that type of circuit. On our trucks gut all the reg wiring and find the wire from the fuse block that is the power wire for the reg. it has a diode you need to remove. You can then hook it to the alt field. Don't forget with a 100 a alt you must upgrade your wiring to the battery. When you do that the ammeter will no longer function properly. The wire to the battery has a known resistance and our amp gauges read the voltage drop across it. Change the wire to handle 100 a and the voltage drop is much less. The gauge no longer reads. You could add a shunt of equal resistance to the original wire if you coul find or make one.
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