Alternators

[suki243]

Hey all, I replaced my sound system, upgraded it to a 600 watt amplifier with a Sub, I have a stock alternator (i believe 65 amps) I'm pretty sure and have been told that it cannot last, and I can feel it when i start the car, it takes longer.
So I have to upgrade my alternator....
How many amps would I need, people in the past have suggest 100 amps. I fought with electrical problems earlier on in this year and I really don't want figure out the electrical system again/ run more wires around. So i prefer an externally regulated, non-one wire alternator. But... if its best for future plans and for reliability, i'm willing to re-do the wiring once again.

Where would you guys suggest getting it? Summit Racing, Pepboys, Autozone, Kragen?

This would be my first alternator replacement, so could some1 shed some light on how I re tighten the belts after i put the new alternator in place of the old one?

 

[iskwezm]

find a local alternator rebuilder and ask them if they could build you a one wire 100 amp. i think i paid about 60 bucks for mine,its not pretty, but it works. to wire it up, just run a 4GA from the battery to the alternator.

or call Chuys Electrical in Los Angeles.they are known for 200+ amp alternators
http://www.chuysautoelectric.com/

 

[Rusty67]

Just go to a junkyard and find yourself a Ford 3G alternator.

 

[suki243]

Hmm, I'm looking for one on junkyard search, and in the past people have suggested the Ford Taurus, it has a 110, 120 or a 130 amp alternator. I believe it is a 3g, i'm not sure. In hte junkyard search it finds alternators that are DOHC and OHV; does it make a difference which one I put on? The price ranges from 75- 120$..

 

[Rusty67]

Just make sure it has the mounting holes in the same place as the alternator you have now. All 3G's are self regulating. After you install it you can just unplug the regulator on the firewall and yank it out of the engine bay.

If you want to see a picture of what the part will look like, take a look at rockauto.com. I use them all the time for visual references on parts.

 

[suki243]

k... I called a local aleternator specialty store... and they tried to scare me just as practically every auto parts store does... I asked them for a pricing, they said external regulator or internally? externally is more expensive... ok how much for internal... they said 300 installed...i said to myself I ask them , what if i install it myself? they said, we don't suggest that since you don't know how to change from external to internal, and we cannot be responsible if you burn it out if you don't install it correctly. They said it'll be 180 without installation then... now tell me... 120 bucks for installation... people have told me it takes 20 minutes tops to replace an alternator...

What is the "correct wiring"? bypassing the external regulator by taking it out?

 

[Rusty67]

You just yank the old box/alternator and run all new wires.

It wont let me upload this file again so here is a link to the thread where I uploaded the install PDF.
http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=709506

 

[suki243]

oh gosh... i love people that tell me that i can't wire it myself... geez.. That doesn't sound too hard. I ran all new wires already, Just rewired the entire car, It was a pain to route the wires under the radiator support, so what I'll do is just connect the wire that is currently going to the I terminal of the regulator and send it to the new alternator, and the otehr wires just let them hang right?

 

[spirockp]

Hey Suki243.

Go to this guy's ebay page. I found him a few months ago and have purchased a 100Amp 4 wire Alternator. He also sells 1 wire. Prices arn't too high either.

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZa1truck

 

[68RestoMod]

Might check on this too.
http://www.reenmachine.com/alt_conv.php

 

[suki243]

Thanks all, I actually found a 130 amp one off a 2000 ford taurus at a local junkyard for 45$ I'll go check it out and if it doesn't work i'll look at the suggetions.

 

[Rusty67]

Thats the ticket !

 

[suki243]

Alright, so I went there and they didn't have it, they tried to sell me a 04' mustang's alternator, but the pulley was bent, So i told him i'll come back if I can't find anything else. I then found a 2004 ford Taurus 120 amp alternator for 75$.
I was reading previous 3g threads and I've noticed that a constant trend is that they tend to make a whine... what causes it? do I keep the same pulley or what? and what do I do about the connector? its a 3 pin, I don't have that kind of connector.

 

[Pbum5]

How about this one?
New, 100 amps, and your choice of Color.
$92.95

http://store.summitracing.com/partd...0304&N=700+400304+4294880741+115&autoview=sku

 

[Rusty67]

Not sure about the whine, mine doesn't have that problem. The reason I like the 3Gs is that the newer ones have all the problems worked out (supposedly) and I have been told they cool themselves more efficiently so they don't die from heat as easily.

 

[bnickel]

check these guys out.

http://www.modernvintageauto.com/index_files/page0007.htm

you can get a completely stock looking 100 amp alternator or a chrome one if you want.

 

[suki243]

alright guys, I picked up the '04 tarus alternator, now to figure out how to wire it... it has a 3 pin connector and a bolt... this is the only diagram on the internet i could find

http://china.amb2b.com/base/plugdwg/pidf322.jpg

thats the 3 pin connector... help!
The guy refused to give me the connector so i have to make my own...


EDIT:!!!! Nevermind... I found out that this is a 4G alternator... should i stick with it?

http://fordfuelinjection.com/?p=63

The wiring diagram is
http://fordfuelinjection.com/public/alternator/4G-ALT_wiring.gif

For the Y/W wat gauge wire should i use? and the mega fuse, i bought one, but it says bolt on, how do i connect it?

 

[suki243]

doesn't fit the brackets on it are too big. I called the guy and he said he'll see if he can find a smaller one on Friday. This is for the double cam one so i dunno. I'm gonna see if he can just take it back and i'll just order one from the sites you guys mentioned... its a big headache junkyarding around

 

[Rusty67]

The 4G is supposed to have a slightly smaller case. I think the smaller 3Gs are actually 4G alternators. The plug you are looking for should be available at the major parts stores in the wiring section. Use 14 or 16 gauge for the wires going into the plug and use 6 gauge or better for the B+ terminal (I like 2 gauge or better personally). I had to grind my 5.0 brackets a bit to get my 3G to fit but it was no big deal.

 

[suki243]

ok, sorry, i'm going crazy here, it will fit, what i will need though is a spacer type of thing about 1 3/4 in, and either a new pulley or a new fan belt. The pulley on the taurus alternator is bigger than the stock one, and the fan belt won't go around it... =\