- Joined
- Apr 4, 2002
- Messages
- 6,488
For the last year or so, I've felt like my old alternator was the eye sore on my nice looking engine. The only other option was to paint it, ceramic coat it to look like headers or spend five bones on a MSD unit that had to be retrofitted with brackets and was the size of a small mailbox. I think that this looks better than all the above, and was the cheapest altenative.
At this time, the entire Turbo Buick community needs to hang their head in shame. I can't believe that no one has ever done this. For all you Northerners that are snowed in with no money and nothing to do, here's your next project.
My old stock alternator was dissasembled, sand blasted, brushed on a 120 grit belt sander, ceramic clear coated, brushes replaced, steel parts re-cad plated and reassembeled.
Here's a few pics of the deal.
Alternator autopsy.
Two halves after sanding.
Parts sanded and back from clear ceramic coating. Note: This stuff is very tough. Now maintenance is just glass cleaner and a rag.
Bad news: One of the bearings didn't slide off the shaft and snapped a brush in half.
Good news: New brushes= $2.00 It was time for new ones anyways.
New brushes going in. Note: paper clip holding them in place untill after installation.
back on the car.
NOW! put down the beer and get busy, you slackers.
More projects coming soon.
Happy spooling.
Mike Barnard
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