Alternator Upgrade

[6SENSE]

Arent our alternators the same as the old school Chevy type? In fact I know they are because Im using the same 94 amp as my Suburban on my Ttype.
Question is, has anyone just gone ahead and used a high amp aftermarket alternator like they offer from Summit, etc. ? Summit has a 140 amp for $169.

 

[WFO]

not yet but when this next one takes a sh!t i'm going to step up.i'll probably try to get it locally so when it takes a crap i can talk to someone face to face.i'm gonna heat wrap the piece of my up-pipe that runs behind the alt too.between the heat,the stereo and the spal fans my alt takes a friggin beating.

how's the new cam?

 

[Lee Thompson]

alt.

Unless you have a large stereo system or planning on welding in the back seat, why would you need 140amps? Have you calculated your total amp load? The problem we run into is the single V-belt running the alt. With a heavier load it is almost impossible to keep it from slipping, hence the serpintene belt.

 

[TType84]

heres the way to get a cheap 120a alt

1. get a bracket off a n/a regal in a junkyard

2. buy a 120a alt from autozone (might need a core.. find an old one im sure you have a crappy one lying in the mud somewhere)

3. buy the HELP wiring harness that plugs into it

4. swap pullies

5. connect the wire from YOUR harness to the brown wire on the connector you bought, insulate the red/black wires

you now have a 120a alt for about $120

 

[leo wagstaff]

justin, i think you can make a impala ss 140 amp work. i compared my 85 alt with the impala one and the casing seems to be the same. ask for a 96 if you try this route then just swap pulleys and you should be good to go.

 

[TType84]

84/85 cars with the original hotair alternator/ac bracket use SMALL CASE alternators.

the cs130 (i think thats the number) alt that is on new gm stuff is a large case alternator.

 

[6SENSE]

Not having any alt. problems right now (been there already), was just curious.

84/85 cars with the original hotair alternator/ac bracket use SMALL CASE alternators.

Could be wrong, but I could have sworn that the newer alternators were smaller in size. Anyway, thanks for the alternator recipe .
Leo, I keep hearing about the 86/87 guys using the Impala ones so didnt think they would adapt, so thanks for the info.
Lee, I am inclined to agree with you, just always hear guys talking about higher amp alternators and how the 86/87s come with higer amp factory (120 right?) so figured this would give some good info for everyone and some options, if nothing else.

how's the new cam?

So far so good. More vaccum, no more loping idle, and definately seems to pull harder. Havent tuned in more boost yet to really see how it feels. Boost is at 14~ and feels stronger than before with much more boost. Definately sense improvements, just wish track was open so I can see improvements on timeslips!

Thanks for replys guys, Justin.

 

[6SENSE]

Leo Wagstaff

Hey Leo, check out the thread started by 86 LeSabre LC on the General tech board about using a Turbo Riv engine.

 

[TType84]

i didnt even know myself about the size until i went to put my alternator back on after i got a new bracket cause the AC part was CRACKING OFF.

the n/a brackets are large case and the hotair alts are smaller. i dont know the exact sizes but im pretty sure its just a large and small, not multiple sizes.

in any case i now have a LT1 alternator for about 90$ with a lifetime warranty.

just make sure to put the other pulley back on when you go back to replace it