Int or ext regulated alt?

[jfalesi]

Fried my alt, need a new one. What's the advantage of an internally regulated alt? I think my voltage regulator is OK... Also, how many amps do I need? I will have a few accessories like driving & fog lights, power mirrors, power door locks. What is the capacity of the stock alt?

[wibilly]

if you look closly by one of the mounting tabs [ i think it's the bottom one] the amperage is stamped on them. i have seen 37, 53, and 68amp on externaly regulated 94 is pretty common on internaly regulated and 105s are available

[Scott68-93-97]

Internal is better and the wiring mods are simple

[jfalesi]

Just ordered an ext regulated 80 amp alt from Summit, then I read in Ron Francis' catalog "Don't use GM externally regulated alternators. They were done away with years ago for a reason." Then again, Ron says a lot of things in his catalog...

[Green Machine]

Originally Posted by Scott68-93-97

Internal is better and the wiring mods are simple

If you are going to get a new one, go for the internal regulated, get a kit for about $15, it has a plug that plugs into the ext reg plug and and another to plug in the the alt. Don't go over about 60-80 amps as the stock wiring to the battery is a weak link. Advantages are more stable volts at low rpm and eliminate lights flickering, plus most stockers were only 35 amp or so. You can get a rebuilt 55 amp from any parts store for about $40, get one for a 1977 1/2 pickup for example. Most will take your old ext reg alt for a core as they look very similar, most don't check or know the difference anyway.

[jfalesi]

Got the alternator installed and it worked for a while until a connector on one of the wires disintegrated. Not quite sure how that happened, but it left me stranded and in need of a jump. It was the single wire with the rubber boot (?) around the connector, on the drivers side of the alt.

[grayw0lf]

Internal... all the way!