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Bugeye 1275 conversion question - alternator?

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T

tdskip

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Hi guys - been dormant on the Bugeye for a while but do have a planning question for you.

When I drop in the 1275 should I convert over to a negative earth alternator based charging system? And if so, what will I need to replace such as the regulator etc? I might need to spring for a new harness anyway since the wiring was pretty hacked up anyway....

Thanks for the coaching!
 
It depends basically on what accesories you want to run and if you will be driving alot at nite...
 
I am running a 1275 positive ground with a BE generator\regulator and harness for years with np, the 1098 generator probably doesn't have space in the back for a tach drive.

That is the only problem that I can forsee.

Pat
 
I'll be running a 948 generator/tach drive and positive ground with my 1275.
 
I too have a 1275 in my '62 with positive ground. The generator was switched out for one without the tach drive, but other than that everything still works as it should. The only thing I have read about that would need to be changed if you went to negative ground and alternator is the tach. The PO replaced mine with a positive ground electric tach, but when I get around to the alternator conversion there are suppose to be a couple wires I'll have to reverse on the inside to make it work right.
 
There's a long article on this in the Wiki (I wrote it). I think that the alternator is a worthwhile conversion, and should be straightforward if you have an electronic tach. If you don't, that's the greater part of the problem. The generator is just barely able to provide enough current to run the car and keep the battery charged, and then only if you don't use the headlights too much. If you add much of anything that uses more current, it's really not adequate.

All modern alternators have built-in electronic regulators, so the old, crude, mechanical one is history once you add an alternator. You will have to do a conversion to negative ground. There is plenty of info on this on the web; just google it. If you are keeping the car absolutely stock, positive-ground is OK, but as soon as you start adding more electrical or electronic stuff, like a radio, that's the time to convert it.
 
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