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Delco alternator swap - price point

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tosoutherncars

tosoutherncars

Jedi Knight
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Hi all,

I'm contemplating the Delco alternator swap... but where Paul's page suggested he paid about $36 for his alt in '99, I'm now getting quotes of about $100 for Napa-brand units, and $130 for Champion rebuilds.

Does that sound right?
 
Welcome to 2008 I supose.
 
I picked one up at Advance Auto parts for *I think* around $60. I am not super happy with the build quality, but it is lifetime warrantied so I will just take it back when it breaks.
 
Got mine off ebay for about $40 shipped. Another $12 for the bracket and a few $$ in fasteners and I was in business. I figured at $40, that's basically the core charge for a rebuild, so it was a risk-free venture. If it failed or was DOA, I'd be at a wash, and if it worked (which it does), I saved $$.

Side note, I did have to grind a little meat off the mounting ear to align the pullies, so I may have totally voided my core theory.
 
Sorry if I'm missing something here--but does it have to be the Delco? Lots of alternators will fit and work quite well. I used a Bosch; it's nice quality, works and fits well.
 
I used the delco because I thought it was the cheapest. It is kind of big sticking up there on the front of the motor. But it is an improvement over the 27amps I had before. Just don't get the 12 o'clock variety.
JC
 
I used a nippon denso for a toyota Starlett. 43.00 Not as big in diameter as delco units. I would post a picture if I knew how. Bulit in regulator
 
Yep thats the one I used. Just ask for either 3 or 9 o'clock on the pigtail. I also had to buy a bracket to go across the top and a 3 wire pigtail from the "help" section.
JC
 
I purchased a 63 Amp Delco on ebay last year for 70 that was converted to one wire (which I was planning to do with a local sourced one) Figuring the regulator for converting to one wire would have cost 25 dollars at the time, it worked out pretty well.
 
While we are at it...

Any recommendations for an alternator for the 1500 Midget?

I took 2 Lucas alternators to Advance Auto for testing on their machine and the guy said both are bad as they were only putting out 11 volts.

Cheers, Adrian
 
bigjones said:
While we are at it...

Any recommendations for an alternator for the 1500 Midget?

I took 2 Lucas alternators to Advance Auto for testing on their machine and the guy said both are bad as they were only putting out 11 volts.

Cheers, Adrian
Click to expand...
I would take them each apart and check the brushes. That might be all thats wrong with them and they are cheap.
 
Kim,
Thanks for the tip!
The good news is I disassembled one of them OK (the other is actually on the MG and seems to work OK). The sad news is I managed to shear one of those long skinny bolts. Maybe you can see it in the photo. The remnant is sticking out but I can only get to it with needle nose pliers and it is not budging.
I'll let it soak in PB Blaster overnight but I got a feeling I'm gone to need to drill it out. What do you think?
Cheers, Adrian

ShearedBolt.jpg
 
I wish I was there to help. I have some left handed drill bits (yes there is such a thing) that might help in that sort of situation. As they drill in they back the bolt out. You could drill it out with great car and that is probably your main option.
 
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