For those with Impalla140Amp alternators?

[dpok69]

My alternator is giving out lower voltages when there is a demand for more current. It works fine until i start turning on alot of accesories. SM reports 10.9-12.8 volts with no accesories, also i think i can hear the bearings going too.

Anyway, i want to do this only once, so i am planning on getting an 95-96 impallas SS 140amp alternator. When i went to autozone they have two case sizes. 5 1/2" and 6". Which one should i get?

 

[Eric Stage I]

You need the bigger case (6"). You also need some electrical connectors with a bigger eyelet, since the post on the Impala alternator is bigger. Other than that, it will bolt right on.

Eric

 

[dpok69]

thanx alot

I thought you also had to clock the housing too so the plug connector is in the righ position. Maybe im wrong.

 

[Crazi]

Nope I put one on too. All you need is to remove the header to alternator bracket, get bigger connectors for the battery cable that bolts to the back, and you are done. Bolts right in!!

 

[dpok69]

thanx alot !

 

[ijames]

I've helped put three of these from the local u-pull-it on cars now, and we didn't have to reclock any of them. None were from Impala SS's but I think all were from LT1's, and for $25 each they were a steal. With a pretty dead battery, heater fan and headlights on high/max, and a 50 amp test load mine did 110 amps at a 700 rpm idle. You lose the rear brace, you need a bigger eyelet on the charging cable, and two of the three had a tapped hole on the ear where the 15 mm bolt goes through so we drilled it out to size. Mine dropped right on but the other two also hit the top of the tensioner bracket so the ear wasn't quite down far enough to line up the 15 mm bolt (the short one, the long stud was already installed). I think if you loosened all the brackets up you could shift things to match, but we wimped out and ground a little off the bottom of the alternator case to clearance it since no one would ever see it on the car.

 

[Alan Faircloth]

Alternator

I've noticed at idle that my headlights and interior lights seem to flicker. Strobe effect is nice in a dance club, but not in the car and definitely not for my headlights. I'm thinking the alternator just isn't putting out enough juice and saw this post about the SS 140 amp Impala Alternators. What's the gain in amps over the stock GN alternator? I thought it was 120 amps? Is 20 amps a noticeable improvement?

As to the installation, no need to change the pulley? Apparently, the loss of the header to alternator bracket won't affect the stability of the alternator? What about with use of an engine tie down strap? Then its just connector issues (batter and plug).

What was in the Supercharged Rivieras from 95 and 96? They had a Supercharged 3.8 motor and LOTS of electric accessories. I would think that they used a higher output alternator and that it might be a perfect bolt on?

Are there any headlight wiring upgrades for these cars utilizing heavier guage wiring?

Thanks,

Alan

 

[getchasum]

Allan, in reference to your lights flickering. You may have ground issuses. Trun out to be what mine was. The neg batt cable was in bad shape. Looked good on the outside but the inside was a different story.

Casper Electronics have the wiring upgrades for the lights.

 

[Eric Stage I]

I got mine from Autozone, part# 1400-6-4 for a '95 Impala SS. It was $78 without the core charge. They gave me the $70 core for my GN alternator (I don't think they were supposed to). It bolted on directly with no changes and used all the same brackets just like it was made for the car (except for the battery wire eyelet thing). From what Carl is saying, there must be some slight differences in the cases if you get the alternator from different cars.
The only difference I noticed was slightly more voltage than my old alternator (14ish at idle compared to 13.5ish for the old one). I didn't buy it because I needed more amps, I just wanted something newer.

Eric

 

[ijames]

Hmm, I thought all of the 140 A alternators had the support hole in the back in the wrong place for us. I got mine because it was more amps, slightly higher regulator voltage, and much cheaper than a rebuilt 120 A unit.

 

[Eric Stage I]

I dunno Carl. I'll take some pictures when I get home today (yeah I'm sittin' at work doing nothing ).

Eric

 

[petesgn]

Will the stock output wire handle the 140 amps?


I noticed on the 140 amp cars they run a bigger gauge wire.

 

[PaulRV6]

For those that are following, what is the type alt we have ie. CSS or SI (I think)? Something different?

paul

 

[Two Lane]

Why not get the internal components/rebuild kit for the 200 amp alt used in some LE & Ambulance packages?

Just in case you need to do some roadside welding...

 

[dpok69]

Just replaced my alternator with the 140 amp autozone p/n# 1400-6-4 for a '95 Impala SS. It was like $80 with core exchange. Never changed an alternator or ever took off the serpentine belt. Job was not too difficult at all.

There are three mounting points. I lost the back mounting point because the new alternator had it in a different location. It was pretty much bolt in. Had difficulty putting on the shorter bolt, but the solution was to twist it in like a screw. It was easy to twist with my hands because i had a big eye bolt for my tourque strap there.

Voltage levels on my SM 2 are now at 13.5-14v. At the battery with all my accessories on it was like 14.6v!!!! .

 

[Eric Stage I]

I took some pics of mine. I was still able to use all brackets for some reason.

http://www.turbotweak.com/impalternator.html

Eric

 

[dpok69]

Wow, mine was different. I guess the impalla SS utilizes only the two ears of the alternator as mounting points. Otherwise i would think all of the alternators would have the third mounting point in the same location.

If i would have seen the picture earlier i would have looked at a couple of the autozone units before purchasing.

Lucky you!!!

 

[Iceman]

200 amp on e-bay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1874385103

 

[Two Lane]

Thanks for the link, Iceman!!

These are great units, & the pic shows the cooling baffle that's also a great addition!

 

[RobV6]

Wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for sharing this info. I was trying to see if it was possible. And ther it was!!!!!!

THANKS SO MUCH>>>>>>>

Now to go and buy one no problem anymore.