How to chenge to newer style alternator

[neonlarry]

2 people have showed me on their trucks, but does anyone have a pic of how to wire the newer style alternator? (and instructions of how to do it) (not the 1 wire kind).
Also, I can get a used one for free, should I just try it and see if it works, or should I have it rebuilt or get a new one? The car that it's in hasn't run for a long time, but when it did the alternator worked.

[red71cheyenne]

Go to any parts store and buy one that is new or rebuilt. They run around $30. Take the old one in as a core. For wiring, do a search of the topic "alternator swap" and it will pull up about 20 different strings about just this. Jeff.

[Blackhawkdc]

Here's a picture of the wiring conversion that was posted a while back, I forget who by.

[neonlarry]

Thanks for the pic, I saved it so now I will have it. Does anyone have the instructions of how to do it though? I just did a search for alternator swap, and I couldn't find anything that made any sense.

[Blackhawkdc]

I'll check the manuals at work and figure out exactly which wire goes where on the alternator and try to get back to ya tonight.

[hanssolo]

Mines a '69 but should be same wire colors. White and dark blue are internal now so throw them away. Red is battery. Brown goes thru firewall to ignition and into steering column (I guess for flashers). Black of course is ground. Hope this helps.

[Blackhawkdc]

Ok, connections at the alternator:

Dark Blue: number 2 terminal on Alternator

White: number 1 terminal on alternator

Red: Battery terminal on Alternator

Black: ground


Those are the wire connections on the newer internal reg'd alternator. CS model I believe (?) Those connections will keep the alternator working good and also keep the Alternator light on the dash functional.

[Longhorn Man]

Yeah, you don't want to delete any wires...just re-arange them a little.

[neonlarry]

Ok, I think that makes a little more sense now. I think I will just go ahead and try it, and I will ask if I have any more questions.

[hanssolo]

If you install a new style alternator and do it right, the old regulator and at least 1 wire will be in the garbage can. Theres no need to have the old regulator on the truck anymore with jumpers on it. Hot-rod magazines have articles on how to do it frequently.

[PICKMUP]

M&H makes a neat little kit with the connectors all covered in a rubber case. Plug it into the harness that comes off the regulator and plug another onto the harness that goes into the alt...no cutting, crimping or colors to worry about. About $20 for all.

[TERRYP]

Why get a a new alternator? They either work or don't. Put the free on in, if it does not work, you are out 10 minutes time, if you take the attitude that everything you put into your truck has to be perfect, you'll wind up with a $20,000 old truck instead of a $2,000 old truck

[Longhorn Man]

I found mine in the trunk of an abondoned Nova. Workin fine.

[neonlarry]

I agree about using the old alternator. There is some stuff that I will buy the best I can afford, but other stuff it either works or it doesn't.

[HotRod929]

Blackhawkdc - so basically what you are saying is that if I replace my externally regulated alternator with an internal regulated alternator all I need to do is rearanged the wires like you said and im done? I dont have to mess with the 12v the alt. need to make power and run a wire to the ignition switch and what not? Thanks

HotRod

[Truckstr]

Alternators for our old trucks turn up in the strangest places.

I was at one of those little mini-markets getting gas, when this guy walks up to me and says that he used to have one of these old trucks and wanted to know if I wanted a spare alternator for it.

Of course I said, "yeah!"

He walks back over to his car and brings one back to me. It was, in fact, the right one.

Ya just never know...

Now, that said, my '67 has a new one-wire alternator. They are available in the aftermarket rated up to something like 120 amps. If you have an A/C system, hot ignition, honkin' stereo, electric fuel pump, high powered head lights, etc., then a higher powered alternator is a better alternative than the old ones.


Jeff

[Blackhawkdc]

Originally posted by HotRod929
Blackhawkdc - so basically what you are saying is that if I replace my externally regulated alternator with an internal regulated alternator all I need to do is rearanged the wires like you said and im done? I dont have to mess with the 12v the alt. need to make power and run a wire to the ignition switch and what not? Thanks

HotRod

That's exactly it. If you notice, looking at a wiring diagram, the bypass wires actually supply the internelly reg'd alternator with exactly what it needs. Its so simple, its almost idiot proof.

[HotRod929]

Blackhawkdc - I have a 135 amp internally regulated alternator that I would like to replace my externally regulated 35 amp alternator. Now will the wireing that is there be able to handle this alternator or am I gonna have a good smoke show on my hands?

HotRod

[Blackhawkdc]

Originally posted by HotRod929
Blackhawkdc - I have a 135 amp internally regulated alternator that I would like to replace my externally regulated 35 amp alternator. Now will the wireing that is there be able to handle this alternator or am I gonna have a good smoke show on my hands?

HotRod

For that hot of an alternator, I'd run a new wire from the Battery terminal on the alternator to the Battery itself. An 8 gauge wire should be sufficient.

[neonlarry]

An alternator out of a 77 Monte Carlo will be ok with the stock wires, right?

[Blackhawkdc]

Originally posted by neonlarry
An alternator out of a 77 Monte Carlo will be ok with the stock wires, right?

Should be. Never hurts to replace the main red wire from the Alternator to the Battery though. Electricity always enjoys a nice clean path to run on.

[HotRod929]

Yea just got back from HomeDepot with 10 feet of 4 gauge wire for my alternator...i figured that would make it one less thing to worry about melting on the truck I still have no idea how I should hook the wire up to the battery. Its a single post battery so where can i put it?

HotRod

[73stepside]

I just done the internal regulator alternator swap. I ran a new wire from the battery post on the alt to the junction block on the fender. I done away with all of the wiring for the exteranl regulator. you don't need it plus it puts moreresistance in the system and you don't reap the full benefits of the new alt. Run the brown wire directly to the white wire for the new connector. run the red wire to the battery post on the alt and you are all done. the wire that runs to the battery junction block is 10 gauge. i got a 63 amp alt. the same amp alt as my old ext reg unit when i hooked it up through th ext reg harness, i wasn't getting any charge to the battery. so i did it this way, and it runs much better. i ran a search on the board for alternator and found the conversion in both configurations.