So i need a higher amp alternator...3g conversion?

[taylor4g63]

I plan on upgrading my sound system a bit, and my headlights already dim a lil bit at idle so i figure its time to add a higher amp alternator. A month or two ago, me and dad rewired the whole charging system with a external voltage regulator, so i'd honestly rather keep it like that and not have to mess with any more wiring. I called a local shop and asked if i could bring it up there and they just do whatever they do to alternators to make em put out more amps, but they said they couldnt.

So now i've got a few questions about the 3g converstion. I read up on it a little bit, but i only found fox body mustangs doing the conversion. So say i get a nice 3g 130 amp alternator, what all am i gonna have to do to mount this thing? Will i have to notch a bracket or anything like on the foxes? What about the wiring, what would be the best way to go about all that? Sorry for all the questions, if somebody has a link where they put one in a classic please share. Thanks!

 

[GT2K]

I'm a couple days away from listing a Ford 140amp chrome Powermaster 1 wire alternator on eBay. It's a direct bolt in and you just run 1 heavy wire off the lug on the back to the solenoid, pretty simple. I changed my bracket setup so it no longer worked. Let me know if you are interested. It's mint, only 1 season on it and less than 1,000 miles. Original box and all included.

 

[skywalker]

taylor: there was a thread a week or so ago about using a '93 taurus' 130 amp alternator and it being a basically bolt-in swap. Perhaps you should look into it?

 

[taylor4g63]

Yeah i saw the thread. It never mentioned any of the wiring tho, and if it was internal or externally regulated.

gt2k, pm me with a price your looking for.

 

[Swede958]

I did it on mine... most of my time was spent tracing back wires that were there, rewrapping the wires, and fixing my bracket. I can probably post pics tomorrow.

In short, I used the BC Broncos website (same name- in their tech section) and am running 4ga wire through a 175a fuse to the + solonoid terminal. o'reillys has the correct 3 terminal plug for the VR, and you can pick up the stator plug at Ford for a couple bucks (I used a 1/8" female spade connector). Off the plug, the white and black wire runs to the stator terminal. The Yellow/white (colors?) runs down to the B+ terminal on the alt. The Red/grn wire wires into the red/grn wire off the original harnass.

ON the old harnass, the red/grn wire goes to the alt. The yellow/wht wire goes to a + source. THere's one more wire that you cap off (it's the one that used to carry most of the load.)

Also, the BCBroncos diagram also lists a ground wire from a terminal on the back. I just ran a 10ga wire to the smog pump boss on my block for ground.

I used some audio connectors on the 4ga wire to the fuse and from the batt to the solonoid. The other connections were copper terminals crimped and soldered on, then with shrink tubing over that.

Looks pretty good. i'll post pics

The Swede

 

[SandSprite]

I used the taurus 100 amp in mine-- externally regulated. It was off a late 80's early 90's 3.8 taurus. It's the "big case" alternator. Here's some info http://soderblom.net/bronco/tech/largealt/

I switched to a serpentine setup at the same time, so I had to space the alternator out a bit more, but that was due to pulley alignment. Also had to modify the lower mount (the one you use to tighten the belt).

 

[taylor4g63]

alright thanks for the info. Its not necessary for me to switch to serpentine when i do the swap is it?

 

[SandSprite]

No, you'll just have to use your old pulley. The 100 amp is a big case, so clearance is an issue. As I said, you will need to modify the lower bracket (at least I did). The wiring is the same as the old stock alt., but the connectors are a little different. My setup is kind of a "hodge podge" so I'm not sure it will work for everyone.