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Best alternator upgrade?

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I like the small jap jobs. They look right and work for years. My $20 junkyard special is on it's 11th year now.
I just bought another junkyart jap alternator a couple weeks ago and they are $40 now.
The GM units are cheap but huge and IMHO look like they belong on a truck. It's 1/2 the size of the engine block.
 
I have heard that the Geo Metro unit is a good choice, there is also a forklift alternator that works too, but I am not sure of the maker.
 
I have one for a Nissan P/U. Had it for years, works great!!
(Adds to the International flavor, I have German, Italian, American, French and Japanese parts on mine - not to mention some that probably in point of fact originated in Mexico, India, China or Taiwan)!!
 
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I have one for a Nissan P/U. Had it for years, works great!!

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Mike, can you tell me more please? One of the concerns I have is going from a 2 to a 4 wire, any mounting brackets required? Length of belt? TIA.
 
The Nissan unit is a two wire unit, and a very easy install. The rear bracket had to be modified from the original BE set-up, but I later found that a bracket from a later Spridget w/alternator fit perfectly! (see attached)
 

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That is a good question. I think Nissan only had one model of mini P/U (Actually a Datsun - B210)in the mid 80s. Just ran out to see if Ihad any #s on it, but I've had it on there so long they cannot be read. It is a Hitachi unit.
PS retain the pulley off the BE, as I recall I did have to switch that, and (see attachment) the cooling blades need to be "curled" for clearance!
 

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I just replaced altenator in our 1977 Midget and bought it at Advance Auto parts. I have been amazed at the stock parts (coil, alternator, starter, plug wires) to name a few.
 
Ditto, I would go to Advanced in search of the part. It's genric, they will have it & at a good price with good guarantee! (wish I was getting a residual on endorsements or something!!!!!).
 
Got a 63 Amp reman Delco over the counter ($35) yesterday, not fully plumbed in yet, but the original belt fits and the fan blades on the alternator are clear of the adjusting bracket. It's a two wire.
So, this big question is, will 32 year old Lucas wiring be able to handle it? Shall I get a few thousand fuses just in case?
 
Good way to start the electrical up-grade!! The wiring should handle it just fine. Check for wear and bad connections!
 
Remember that 14 volts is 14 volts and that is what your system will see (mostly). The only difference your system really will see is many more amps going from the alternator to the battery but THIS wire you ARE going to beef up /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif (from the alternator to the starter solenoid). Nothing else will care didally about your upgrade.
Bill
 
Billm said:
from the alternator to the battery but THIS wire you ARE going to beef up /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif (from the alternator to the starter solenoid).
Click to expand...

That is the thick brown wire right? What grade should be instead?
30f6a4a469ed32199c3421aa2b2ad5d10_large.jpg
 
I can't remember what size the brown wire is but I am guessing that it is about 12 gauge, I personally would try for 10 or 8 gauge (smaller wire gage number means thicker wire). I cant find my "current chart" (wire size/type vs. capacity) right now but 10 gauge should be fine.
Bill

Of course I know that noone would do it but-- always use copper multi-strand wire, NEVER use solid wire (like in your house wiring) nor anything but copper.
Bill
 
Everyone was very helpful regsrding this subject. But I do have one question for everyone. Does anyone have, part numbers, model numbers or just some number that may help find these units. I am a part number guy.
Paul
 
For what, wire? Try Ace or a car parts place. small roll for about 3 bucks.
 
So, I'm sitting here looking at these nice installations and wondering: how to you make sure that the alternator pulley will line up perfectly with the water-pump pulley on the engine? Is the distance from the mounting flange on the alternator to its pulley the same for all of these units? I don't see any attempt to adjust this with washers under the mounting flange or anything like that. The pulleys just seem to line up like magic!

Finally, you need a pulley of the right width, so it matches the drive belt width. Is it possible to buy aftermarket pulleys if the one that comes with the alternator isn't right?
 
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