One of the first things I want to do to my 74 Mav is replace the stock alternator for a modern one. Any specific brand I should keep an eye out for?
Get you a one wire alternator. You can eliminate your existing voltage regulator and wiring. You only need to run the one hot wire and that's it. I have this same alternator but mine is chrome plated. It is about an extra 30 bucks if you want chrome. This one will work great and it's a direct bolt on with no mods. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-...014QQitemZ330247700958QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW
I run the same alternator on my car. Works great, long as you can get past the whole GM part in your Ford thing. You just have to be sure you make a 1 inch spacer for the lower bracket so the alternator stays lined up right with the pulleys, otherwise when you tighten the lower bolt, the bracket will fold in on it self and make the alternator sit crooked. I made that mistake with mine, caused it to eat belts and not charge right.
I'm using a Summit 100 amp 1 wire alternator and it's a direct swap http://store.summitracing.com/partd...=SUM-810302&N=700+4294908331+115&autoview=sku
No spacer on mine. They make a housing with the same mounting as the Ford alt. Like Jeff said, it's a direct bolt on. Mine is actually a "Tuff Stuff" brand which I believe is the same one Summit sells. Got it off eBay couple years ago for $100. Summits price of $139.95 is still a good deal. Great looking alternator and works awesome. Best thing is getting rid of that external regulator and wiring.
I'm using a regular GM three wire on mine. Had to drill the top hole out just a bit to fit the FORD bolt, and make up a new upper spacer. No spacer needed on the bottom. Jamie has a I6, so his may mount different than a V8.....
I had to drill the bottom hole out to fit the Ford bolt, and make a spacer for the bottom. The top one just bolted right to the top bracket with the bolt supplied with the alternator. It was very easy took less then an hour to modify and install the alternator. All of those other ones may be prettied up and have someone else' name slapped on them, but you can tell by looking at them that they are based on the Chevy alt. The thing I like about the GM 3 wire alternator, is your factory ALT light hooks right to it, so you still have that functionality. Yet it is still internally regulated, which means you can get rid of the factory voltage regulator and all that crap. When I got the alternator, I just told them I wanted one for a '78 Camaro with a 350 (while at the same time trying to keep from pukeing as those words rolled out of my mouth )
Here, I just drew this up in paint. When you remove your factory voltage regulator, you will notice a green wire with a red stripe, with a female "bullet" type connector on the end of it coming out of the car's harness. That wire is the ground wire for the ALT light in your instrument cluster. You can ground it anywhere and turn the key to the ON position to verify it works. The ALT light should light up when you do that. You connect it straight to terminal 1 on the alternator. You'll have to extend the wire and add a crimp on connector to the end of it to do that. Terminal 2 literally just loops right back around to the large BAT stud on the alt. I just cut a piece of 12 gauge wire 3 inches long, put a ring terminal on one end and another female crimp on connector on the other. Then get a piece of 4 gauge battery cable with ring terminals on both ends and run it from the BAT terminal on the alternator to the hot side (side that the battery cable goes to) of the starter solenoid. The first time you go to start the car, turn the key to the ON position and verify that the ALT light is lit up. Then make sure it goes out when you start the car. You're ready to roll...
Thanks for the info Jamie HOw many amps is yours? Im still tempted to go w/ the Tempo alternator (11o or 130 i dont recall did this mod a long time ago) but always open to more options
