Progress Thread My '89 Lx "barn Find" Restoration Project

[mrobins26]

I guess if I am going to change the brushes, I might as well dive in and make sure everything else is okay. Everything on the Stator (< .5 ohms for any connections) and Rotor ohmed out okay at 2.6ohms (spec is 2.0 to 3.9). Rectifier diodes are all good. I will do the final test of the regulator once it is back in the car. The case and everything cleaned up nicely in the blast cabinet and a light coat of high temp satin clear to keep it that way....

Since everything checked out... Rebuilt alternator looking like new for $3.95
I wonder how many people still have that original plastic fan shield on their alternators?

 

[1200gt]

Blast Cabinets are a must for this sort of resto. This would have been a good time to replace the belt-tentioner... Lookin good!

 

[mrobins26]

Blast Cabinets are a must for this sort of resto. This would have been a good time to replace the belt-tentioner... Lookin good!

And alternator bracket...

and why stop there, next... smog pump, Water pump, AC compressor bracket, etc...

 

[1200gt]

And alternator bracket...

and why stop there, next... smog pump, Water pump, AC compressor bracket, etc...

Now that's more like it... it looks awesome! Is the alternator bracket new? I blasted mine and it came thru looking great..... I never considered pricing and buying a new one.

 

[mrobins26]

Now that's more like it... it looks awesome! Is the alternator bracket new? I blasted mine and it came thru looking great..... I never considered pricing and buying a new one.

Just cleaned up and some VHT paint where needed.

 

[mrobins26]

Smog pump before and after

 

[All Stock93]

I wonder how many people still have that original plastic fan shield on their alternators?

I still have the plastic fan shield.....and the factory "GT" marking

 

[1200gt]

Cool touches, were you taped over the OEM stickers.... I actually stripped and painted my intake with VHT and it is pretty resistant to chemicals. I couldn't tell from the pics that the parts weren't new.

What did you do about the hardware such as nuts and bolts: you painted them as well? I still have my OEM alternator with the plastic fan...lol Took if off at original 45k. I think I'll just store it for whatever....

 

[mrobins26]

I still have the plastic fan shield.....and the factory "GT" marking

Nice.That looks real clean. All of my aluminum is oxidized and has white spots on it... How do you keep yours looking so clean?

 

[mrobins26]

Cool touches, were you taped over the OEM stickers.... I actually stripped and painted my intake with VHT and it is pretty resistant to chemicals. I couldn't tell from the pics that the parts weren't new.

What did you do about the hardware such as nuts and bolts: you painted them as well? I still have my OEM alternator with the plastic fan...lol Took if off at original 45k. I think I'll just store it for whatever....

Hardware also.. I'm using a mild glass bead media... Wife hates coming home to car parts curing in her oven

 

[General karthief]

Maybe you need better timing, my girl calls when she is on her way home, theres hell to pay if I get caught with car parts in the house.

 

[1200gt]

Hardware also.. I'm using a mild glass bead media... Wife hates coming home to car parts curing in her oven

I hear you about the oven use. I just baked my booster and master cylinder. The house was a wreck for a short while. I opened the window and let the South Florida breeze do its work, but it was slow to go.

Hardware: I'm always concerned about the bolt heads getting chipped during assembly, but still worth the effort to spray.....

I've been blasting with the same product. I love the results. However, I just got some heavier medium from Northern (black beads) that I'm looking to try. Nothing to report about as now.....

 

[mrobins26]

I hear you about the oven use. I just baked my booster and master cylinder. The house was a wreck for a short while. I opened the window and let the South Florida breeze do its work, but it was slow to go.

Hardware: I'm always concerned about the bolt heads getting chipped during assembly, but still worth the effort to spray.....

I've been blasting with the same product. I love the results. However, I just got some heavier medium from Northern (black beads) that I'm looking to try. Nothing to report about as now.....

I'm not familiar with black beads, is it aluminum oxide?... I heard you have to be careful with any steel products, because it will embed into the aluminum and spot rust later on... Make sure and wear a good dust mask if using coal slag... I understand that stuff isn't good for you

 

[1200gt]

I'm not familiar with black beads, is it aluminum oxide?... I heard you have to be careful with any steel products, because it will embed into the aluminum and spot rust later on... Make sure and wear a good dust mask if using coal slag... I understand that stuff isn't good for you

I looked at the blast medium I picked up at Northern Tool, it is the coal slag product called "Black Diamond". It appears that it is sold almost everywhere, even at Home D. Thanks for the safety headsup. I'll look more into the product before use and I certainly will be wearing a auto painter mask...

 

[mrobins26]

I was going to rebuild the water pump and then saw this... splurged on a new high flow ford water pump, ARP bolt kit, and complete set of new preformed radiator and heater hoses.


View: https://youtu.be/nwuM-sbIZls

 

[mrobins26]

Okay, got all the accessories cleaned up, rebuilt, or replaced as needed. Remembered how to put it all back together and it is looking a lot better. Really surprised that the idle is smoother and all the dash lights are all brighter. I guess the alternator was really struggling with almost no brushes, and parasitic battery drain is gone.

 

[1200gt]

I was going to rebuild the water pump and then saw this... splurged on a new high flow ford water pump, ARP bolt kit, and complete set of new preformed radiator and heater hoses.


View: https://youtu.be/nwuM-sbIZls

 

[mrobins26]

Back to testing the voltage regulator. I get 17 Volts at idle (instead of 14-15) so regulator appears to be faulty with the over voltage condition. Will replace that today.

 

[1200gt]

Back to testing the voltage regulator. I get 17 Volts at idle (instead of 14-15) so regulator appears to be faulty with the over voltage condition. Will replace that today.

Robins, Are you going for the totally stock approach? My reason for asking is that you could get a new alternator with a bit more juice for not much more than the parts replacement and effort to repair the oem unit. I just purchase a 160amp unit for $159. plan to run a couple amp out back so I just upgraded. Of course you may have already have considered this possibility.

BTW, thanks for the pics of the installed cleanup. It looks awesome!

 

[mrobins26]

Robins, Are you going for the totally stock approach? My reason for asking is that you could get a new alternator with a bit more juice for not much more than the parts replacement and effort to repair the oem unit. I just purchase a 160amp unit for $159. plan to run a couple amp out back so I just upgraded. Of course you may have already have considered this possibility.

BTW, thanks for the pics of the installed cleanup. It looks awesome!

Yes. Drove it off the lot in 1989 and was a highway daily driver so easy miles. Everything is original, so committed to keep it that way. Although today... My patience is being tested.... Replaced the voltage regulator. All good, ran it up to temp to set idle per the excellent advice on this forum... And after getting everything set and running perfect at 750 to 850 rpm I noticed a horrible smell and a lot of smoke coming out of the alternator. I have smelled the distinct electrical smell before and so it would seem the rectifier diodes (original and not-replaced) decided to commit suicide... So now it will be the decision... do I go one step further and replace diode pack after replacing vreg and brushes or get a whole new woefully inadequate but original G2 alternator... I like a good challenge so looks like new diodes are next...