Alternator Question

[Micetic]

Hi,

I have the stock 60 amp alternator. Apparently there is a 100 amp one available, does anyone know if it is difficult to change the 60 for the 100? Are there other alternators I should consider?

Thanks!

[Brian C]

Hi,

I have the stock 60 amp alternator. Apparently there is a 100 amp one available, does anyone know if it is difficult to change the 60 for the 100? Are there other alternators I should consider?

Thanks!

Depends on what year your TC is. I swapped out the stock alternator on an 82 TC I used to have, with the 100 amp ford alternator.
Both had EXTERNAL voltage regulators, so I didn't have to make any wiring changes. I DID however, need the mounting brackets that went with the 100 amp.
If you're lucky enough to find a 100amp in a boneyard, you can get the brackets there as well.

From what I saw, you'd need to find an old copcar, or Bronco, to find a 100 amp.

[joedogg]

Hi,

I have the stock 60 amp alternator. Apparently there is a 100 amp one available, does anyone know if it is difficult to change the 60 for the 100? Are there other alternators I should consider?

Thanks!
From what I understand the 130 AMP from a 3rd generation Taurus or a Windstar can be made to work fairly easily.

[nailfoot]

Or go all out and get a custom made 300 amp alternator from www.stingerelectronics.com (http://www.stingerelectronics.com).

Okay, that's probably overdoing it a bit...:eek:

EDIT: It seems that only 150 amp models are available now :o

[Elemino]

You need to be careful not to go too much bigger because the stock wiring isn't made to handle all of that current. Trust me, I almost set one on fire when I installed my 200amp alt on my car.100amp... Maaaaaaaaaybe 130amps. No more than that though. From what I understand one is internally regulated while one is externally regulated. You just have to make sure you have the same kind before you swap them out.

[gadget73]

130 amp 3g and run a heavier wire from the alternator output post to the battery via a fuse. Easiest and most reliable upgrade. The 100 amp unit is not that hot, more expensive to replace, and requires special not so common brackets. The 130 amp unit bolts in and requires extremely minimal effort to wire in. I'll post pics when I get home tomorrow if you're interested.

[Sixlitre]

130 amp 3g and run a heavier wire from the alternator output post to the battery via a fuse. Easiest and most reliable upgrade. The 100 amp unit is not that hot, more expensive to replace, and requires special not so common brackets. The 130 amp unit bolts in and requires extremely minimal effort to wire in. I'll post pics when I get home tomorrow if you're interested.

I'll save you the trouble Gadget

here's some pics and a link to my 130 amp Taurus conversion;

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/269175/fullsize/img_0197.jpg

Micetic

If you look at the rad in the top pic you'll also see the Taurus 3.8 litre electric fan.

Got the fan for $30 in the junkyard and the alternator for about the same IIRC.

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/269174/fullsize/img_0207.jpg

http://www.supermotors.net/vehicles/registry/9371/27285

http://www.supermotors.net/vehicles/registry/9371/28730

If'n you don't already have a Supermotors webpage, sign on up, theys free and great !

Sixlitre

[Micetic]

Thanks for all the advice, I think I will go with the 130 amp upgrade. Is the Taurus alternator and the 3G comperable?

[Ivan D.]

The Taurus alternator is a 3G alternator, what's in our cars stock is the 2G, and I don't know what is considered the 1st generation but I assume it's gonna be something pretty old. To make sure you're getting the right 3G aletrantor make sure you order one for a '94-'95 Mustang GT, it's the same as the small-frame Taurus unit, but there also exists a large-frame Taurus alternator which won't be a direct bolt-on in your car. I've seen both 3.0 and 3.8 Taurii (pl. of Taurus) have both the small-frame and the large-frame alternators, and I haven't found a pattern to which gets what and when just yet.

[gadget73]

If you ask for an alternator for a 95 Mustang 5.0 you'll get the correct size alternator.

Thanks Ivan, I figured you'd probably post pics. I think you have more and better pics of the conversion than I do anyway.

[Sixlitre]

The Taurus alternator is a 3G alternator, what's in our cars stock is the 2G, and I don't know what is considered the 1st generation but I assume it's gonna be something pretty old. To make sure you're getting the right 3G aletrantor make sure you order one for a '94-'95 Mustang GT, it's the same as the small-frame Taurus unit, but there also exists a large-frame Taurus alternator which won't be a direct bolt-on in your car. I've seen both 3.0 and 3.8 Taurii (pl. of Taurus) have both the small-frame and the large-frame alternators, and I haven't found a pattern to which gets what and when just yet.

Yep

That 130 amp unit in the pics above is the large case Taurus alternator. There were a few minor mods, like a 1" shorter belt (longer ? can't remember, read the captions on my Supermotors page under the pics).

BTW Get the fan from the 3.8 only, the 3.0 litre fans will not do the job.

Sixlitre

[joedogg]

Yep

That 130 amp unit in the pics above is the large case Taurus alternator. There were a few minor mods, like a 1" shorter belt (longer ? can't remember, read the captions on my Supermotors page under the pics).

BTW Get the fan from the 3.8 only, the 3.0 litre fans will not do the job.

Sixlitre
So if one were to get the alt from a '95 Mustang GT 5.0, you wouldn't need to whack the living s**t out of your alternator bracket or grind out the hole?

[gadget73]

Nope, bolts right on the stock brackets. The large frame alternator fits up to the 100 amp bracket, but the one ear on the alt is fatter and needs to be ground down in order to mate up.

I think the 1g alternator is the externally regulated one on the 85 and older cars. Its something like 50 amps. They're fairly reliable, if a bit pathetic in the output department.

[Ivan D.]

Thanks Ivan, I figured you'd probably post pics. I think you have more and better pics of the conversion than I do anyway.

Well, those were actually Malcolm's pics, but I might as well throw mine int too:

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/447955/fullsize/dscn1988.jpg

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/447958/fullsize/dscn2052.jpg

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/447960/fullsize/dscn2053.jpg

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/447961/fullsize/dscn1998.jpg

[Elemino]

Here's my 200 amp monstrosity...

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/852/020bg7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/3807/027gx5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/2857/028ul6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Cost a little more than a used taraus alt, but well worth the money. 130 amp alt you can get away with much smaller wire than the 0 (1/0) gauge that I used.

[Sixlitre]

So if one were to get the alt from a '95 Mustang GT 5.0, you wouldn't need to whack the living s**t out of your alternator bracket or grind out the hole?

I spose one could

but I happen to be a pretty cheap b@$turd so's I went with the large case Taurus causin' theys mo' common in junkyards and a might cheaper too

Plus I only has to keep one extra used Taurus alt in stock for my entire 5.0 litre fleet (toothless grin), causin' the Bronco is large case too.

Sides I happen to have enjoyed pounding the cr@p outta the bracket, it's dern therapeutic IMHO !

Sixlitre

p.s./
Nice set ups Elemino and Ivan !

[gadget73]

Elemino: looks like your 200 amp alt is just a re-wired 3g 130 unit. Case sure looks the same anyway. Certainly not impossible to fit a different armature and field coil assembly into that case.

[Elemino]

Elemino: looks like your 200 amp alt is just a re-wired 3g 130 unit. Case sure looks the same anyway. Certainly not impossible to fit a different armature and field coil assembly into that case.Yea, its a remanufactured unit from motorcityreman.com. They basically take used alts, and rebuild them with new parts to the specs the customer wants. I'm very pleased with it. Even uses the same kind of internal regulation as my old one and the control plug fits as well. I did have the option of going with one of those that just works once it detects the car is running... but I was affraid my computer wouldnt recognize problems or would constantly report one.

[OVERKILL]

I only have one shot of mine, its from a Mustang, I ran 4 gauge to it.

http://www.photodump.com/direct/cadlam/TownCarEngineDriverSide.jpg

[gadget73]

I have 4 GA and a 150 amp circuit breaker on mine. The stock wiring from alt to battery and fuselinks are completely unhooked.

[lairdt]

I have 4 GA and a 150 amp circuit breaker on mine. The stock wiring from alt to battery and fuselinks are completely unhooked.

Any reason why a one-wire setup wouldn't work as well? I've seen some 3G's with one-wire kits - I like simple.

[Elemino]

Any reason why a one-wire setup wouldn't work as well? I've seen some 3G's with one-wire kits - I like simple.What he said is a one-wire setup.

On my car, as you can see from the pix, I left the factory wire in place and just added more support through the use of the larger 0 gauge.

[lairdt]

What he said is a one-wire setup.

On my car, as you can see from the pix, I left the factory wire in place and just added more support through the use of the larger 0 gauge.

Does it work if you unplug that 3 wire connector? I've not seen one where it really was a one-wire setup where it didn't have a plug there, they only have a charge wire connected.

[Elemino]

lol... sorry I misunderstood what you were asking. Yea, the ppl I bought my alt from gave me the option, but I told them I'd rather the regular worked with the wire harness (mostly because of my digi-dash). I'm not sure how they really look, but the connector itself is the regulator. So I would assume they wouldn't have those connectors, but I don't know for sure.

[gadget73]

There are 3 wires on that plug but in reality only one actually connects to the wiring harness. The larger yellow wire can jump directly to the output terminal on the alternator, the thin white wire jumps to the field terminal (the small plug-in wire) and the green goes through the idiot light. The stock wiring runs the large yellow all the way to the battery but as long as its recieving battery voltage, it works. Its the battery sense wire. In theory connecting this right to the alternator could result in a slightly low voltage condition to the rest of the electrical system, but this would only be the case if the feed wire from the output post on the battery were small enough that it caused a voltage drop. Using 4 guage or thicker wire you aren't going to have enough voltage drop to be significant. The field wire jumps from the regulator to the armature anyway if you cut back the split loom and tape a bit. I shortened my wire up somewhat in the intrests of neatness. The only wires that go from the alternator on my car are the heavy 4 guage wire and the thin green wire. The rest has been cut back to the fenders, and someday when I get really motivated, I'll pull that harness out from behind the header panel completely.

[Micetic]

I'll save you the trouble Gadget

here's some pics and a link to my 130 amp Taurus conversion;

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/269175/fullsize/img_0197.jpg

Micetic

If you look at the rad in the top pic you'll also see the Taurus 3.8 litre electric fan.

Got the fan for $30 in the junkyard and the alternator for about the same IIRC.

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/269174/fullsize/img_0207.jpg

http://www.supermotors.net/vehicles/registry/9371/27285

http://www.supermotors.net/vehicles/registry/9371/28730

If'n you don't already have a Supermotors webpage, sign on up, theys free and great !

Sixlitre


Sorry for reviving an old link.

Sixlitre, I really like that Taurus fan and how you put it in there. I think I am going to try the same with my '89 TC. Concerning the fan controller, did you get that online and if so where. Thanks!

[Sixlitre]

Sorry for reviving an old link.

Sixlitre, I really like that Taurus fan and how you put it in there. I think I am going to try the same with my '89 TC. Concerning the fan controller, did you get that online and if so where. Thanks!

Two bolts pulls it out in @20 seconds Micetic

I had originally made the framework for it to go in my Bronco;

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/215763/fullsize/img_0046.jpg

Read up on it here;

http://www.supermotors.net/vehicles/registry/4970/26263

Then I modified it slightly and slapped it into the TownCar;

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/248791/fullsize/img_0209.jpg

The studs you see are four 1/4-20 bolts welded into the frame to accept the bone stock Taurus fan, so it bolts on in seconds.

Alls I done was drill and notch two holes, like the one you sees on the lower cowl support in the pic;

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/248794/fullsize/img_0203.jpg

Thens the little tabs I done sawed outta the angle steel fit's right into them thar holes;

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/248793/fullsize/img_0208.jpg

and alls yuh have tu do after that is use the stock two upper bolts to bolt into the stock holes and you're secured ! You can barely make out one of the bolts in this pic;

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/269166/fullsize/img_0197.jpg

read up on it here;

http://www.supermotors.net/vehicles/registry/9371/28730

Hope that helps. BTW MAJOR torque savings and mileage improvement plus more effortless acceleration too.

Sixlitre

[OVERKILL]

SixLitre:

Innovative.

I used a Mark VIII fan, it just bolts up, no extra brackets:

http://www.photodump.com/direct/cadlam/TownCarEnginePassengerSide.jpg

[Sixlitre]

SixLitre:

Innovative.

I used a Mark VIII fan, it just bolts up, no extra brackets:

http://www.photodump.com/direct/cadlam/TownCarEnginePassengerSide.jpg

Sweet

but the Mk VIIIs are rare and expensive in yards around here. $30.00 CDN gets me a new Taurus fan

Sixlitre

[OVERKILL]

Sweet

but the Mk VIIIs are rare and expensive in yards around here. $30.00 CDN gets me a new Taurus fan

Sixlitre

Guess it depends on the yards eh? There is a great yard in Scarborough, that's where I got mine.

[Sixlitre]

Guess it depends on the yards eh? There is a great yard in Scarborough, that's where I got mine.

Must be nice !

[OVERKILL]

Must be nice !

Bah, you aren't THAT far from me :)

[Sixlitre]

Bah, you aren't THAT far from me :)

Scarberia ?!?!

Yeah, that's 3 1/2 hours from me in good weather. I would love to tap into the Toronto yards as they tend to get newer stuff than the country yards I hit up here.

Guess I outta be careful what I wish for I guess. My kid sister went to your U of T campus there while bernardo was loose and killin'.

We worried about her afterwards when we discovered how dangerous he was. Didn't have to really worry. We taught her to box like a man and she's 6'-1" and pretty powerful (even for a model, as she was then). She K-O'd her boyfriend cold one night.

Sixlitre

[OVERKILL]

Scarberia ?!?!

Yeah, that's 3 1/2 hours from me in good weather. I would love to tap into the Toronto yards as they tend to get newer stuff than the country yards I hit up here.

Guess I outta be careful what I wish for I guess. My kid sister went to your U of T campus there while bernardo was loose and killin'.

We worried about her afterwards when we discovered how dangerous he was. Didn't have to really worry. We taught her to box like a man and she's 6'-1" and pretty powerful (even for a model, as she was then). She K-O'd her boyfriend cold one night.

Sixlitre


That's the kind of story you only hear about on TV or in books! No, I don't live in Scarborough, I live in Peterborough, but Scarborough is only about an hour away from me.

The yards up TO way are pretty sweet. PTBO has about 4 wreckers, they are pretty decent too. Let me know if you are looking for something in particular and I can check around here.