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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2006
Location: at work
Posts: 2,552
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I don't know about you guys but i'm tired of fooling with rebuilt alternators. Anyone have any recommendations on where to get a new one wire with internal regulator alternator?????????? Looking at Summit and jegs but wanted you guys opinion!!!!!!!!!!
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R.I.P. Killer 71 10/26/07 |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Virginia
Posts: 1
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Re: New alternator
I put a new Powermaster in my truck. Was easy and works great. Call them and they can get you the right model for your truck.
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____________________ '69 C-20 Camper Special |
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#3 |
Parts and more parts
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Lebo, Kansas (middle of nowhere
Posts: 6,821
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Re: New alternator
I am using alternaotrs from TUFF STUFF www.tuffstuffperformance.com
They are excellent alternators and the company stands behind them. I got mine to carry 80 amps at idle, since I have electric fans and stereo components. Last edited by piecesparts; 03-12-2007 at 08:56 PM. |
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#4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 1,015
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Re: New alternator
can i ask you guys a question on your new Alternators? Did it fix the dim lights at idle problem?
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2006
Location: at work
Posts: 2,552
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Re: New alternator
when i deleted the external regulator and converted to the internal regulator seemed to fix it but my problem is that the remanufactured alternators are not lasting that long.
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R.I.P. Killer 71 10/26/07 |
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#6 |
Parts and more parts
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Lebo, Kansas (middle of nowhere
Posts: 6,821
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Re: New alternator
Part of the reason that I went to the 80 amp at idle alts, was due to the fans and the air conditioning and everything else dragging down the factory unit at a stoplight. I stepped up my units to 140 amps, which is not really needed unless you have a heavy load on your charging system, such as fans--etc. I also wired my headlights straight to the battery, using a Painless Performance wiring harness, to get a full 12 volts to the lights, vice going through the headlight switch with the load.
A factory alternator only puts out around 35 amps at idle and that is definitely a little light in maintaining the loads at norm. I gave up on rebuilt alternators forever. Last edited by piecesparts; 03-12-2007 at 09:10 PM. |
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#7 | |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Studio City, Calif.
Posts: 2,865
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Re: New alternator
Quote:
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'69 GMC C2500 Custom Camper, 8 1/2' bed, New GM 350, NP 435 Close Ratio 4spd. Trans., 3.73 Dana-60 open.Camper and Trailer wiring, PS, PB, AC, tach , three gas tanks, 2nd owner, Work-Truck supreme. Best $300 I ever spent. |
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#8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 1,015
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Re: New alternator
I'm running at about 725-750 rpm's at idle in drive. Don't know much about the alternator other then it's chrome & has been rebuilt in the past, I have a Red Top Optima battery, & I do have an aluminum pully set, (I think March pullys) here's picture of the pully setup, & I'm running pretty expensive H4 headlights, & it bugs me when their so dim at idle (the dash lights are dim too) when I get up to about 1,000 -1,200 rpms the headlights are very bright the old battery is in this pic though.
Last edited by 71chevylowrider; 03-12-2007 at 09:32 PM. |
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#9 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 246
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Re: New alternator
if i were made out of money, i would pick up a MeanGreen (for no reason!).
http://www.mean-green.com/products/alternator.html |
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#10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 1,015
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Re: New alternator
Looks very cool, how much are they? Not that I'm made of money.
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2006
Location: at work
Posts: 2,552
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Re: New alternator
Is the mean green pretty good equipment!
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R.I.P. Killer 71 10/26/07 |
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#12 |
Freeeeee Mason...
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: McAlester, Oklahoma
Posts: 320
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Re: New alternator
In the car audio world we try to get the best charging systems possible. Here's a few people we use...
Iraggi http://www.excessiveamperage.com/ www.mean-green.com/ Most of these are HO alternators and will handle anything these old trucks can throw at them. |
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Center City, MN, USA
Posts: 3,253
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Re: New alternator
The dim at idle headlights has NOTHING to do with your alternator. It has everything to do with the fact that GM put 20 feet of 16 gauge wire, a crummy old headlight switch, and a dimmer switch between a voltage source and your headlights. The current has to run through all that small wire and through all those connectors.
Put a volt meter on your headlight with them on. I measured around 10.8 volts before I switched to using relays. Search for headlight relay upgrade and follow the instructions that have been posted many times.
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'70 cab, '71 chassis, 383, TH350, NP205. '71 Malibu convertible '72 Malibu hard top Center City, MN |
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#14 |
Freeeeee Mason...
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: McAlester, Oklahoma
Posts: 320
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Re: New alternator
Or you could just upgrade the wire....
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#15 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 1,015
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Re: New alternator
I get what your saying, but what about the dash lights doing the same thing? Same problem with too much thin wire between them & the battery?
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#16 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Studio City, Calif.
Posts: 2,865
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Re: New alternator
OK,I just checked mine for comparison. At slow idle I have 14.2 volts at the battery.If I turn on the headlights the voltage goes down to 14.1 and the lights are as bright as they ever get.These are regular spec lights though,(40W each I believe). I did however replace the main lead off the battery (after it melted) with some household wiring I happened to have on-board at the time,but I never remember having dim headlights before I switched.
>> Check your idle voltage at the battery with and without lights on and post here.
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'69 GMC C2500 Custom Camper, 8 1/2' bed, New GM 350, NP 435 Close Ratio 4spd. Trans., 3.73 Dana-60 open.Camper and Trailer wiring, PS, PB, AC, tach , three gas tanks, 2nd owner, Work-Truck supreme. Best $300 I ever spent. |
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#17 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 1,015
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Re: New alternator
Okay, thats a good idea, I will do that & post the results thanks working longhorn, & everyone else for their help & input.
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#18 |
Freeeeee Mason...
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: McAlester, Oklahoma
Posts: 320
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Re: New alternator
Uh.. also check your voltage @ the light. It loses all the power in that tiny little wire for 20 ft. Thats where you'll see the big drop.
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#19 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Studio City, Calif.
Posts: 2,865
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Re: New alternator
Yeah,except we sorta know he has low voltage at the lights or they probly wouyldn't be dim! So I'd start at the battery to see the health of the charging system.jmho
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'69 GMC C2500 Custom Camper, 8 1/2' bed, New GM 350, NP 435 Close Ratio 4spd. Trans., 3.73 Dana-60 open.Camper and Trailer wiring, PS, PB, AC, tach , three gas tanks, 2nd owner, Work-Truck supreme. Best $300 I ever spent. |
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#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: jaffrey,NH
Posts: 325
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Re: New alternator
I Had My Alt Rebuilt At A Local Shop About 10 Yrs Ago. Its Still Kickin Some How.
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#21 |
Active Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Centerville, GA
Posts: 240
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Re: New alternator
It looks like you have an underdrive pulley set. If your crank pulley is almost the same size as your harmonic balancer you have an underdrive setup. I have the same problem with my serpentine underdrive setup from March. The alt is not turning fast enough and it will damage your alternator too. I am on my second rebuild and the alternator guy said that when it is turning that slow the voltage drops and the current draw goes up which kills the rectifier.
If not then you have a voltage drop problem somewhere, just as mrein3 suggested. |
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#22 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 1,015
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Re: New alternator
oh boy, & my alternator is chrome too & those don't always last that long, so even if I have low voltage at the battery, it could be as simple as the undrive pully has changed the rpm of the alternator? So do I just put a different size pully on the alternator to fis it? (If that's the problem)
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