Alternator Swap

I'm running the stock alternator on a Small Block 360. It makes 65amps, I think.

I've been looking around and seeing alternators 1/2 the size and making 120+ Amps.

Can I simply swap mine for one of these? If not what needs to take place to make this work in a 70 Challenger with original wiring.

Thanks

Speedy515

use an external regulated mini ALT. and it wires up and uses the stock VR

I did ths on my 85 truck with 440 in the sig pic

you may need to bypass the amp guage and you may need a solid state VR if it has the older mech points VR

should be able to flip it over(ear/lugs) and use the stock brackets,may need to make the lower longer

there is a bracket templat in the tech archives you can print out and make a metal bracket for the lower one on SB

you do have to cut the slip terms off and use eyeloops with the newer alt

there are also internal regulated alt that have 1 wire hook up and some other wire mods that can be used also

What does a external regulated mini starter have to do with his question about changing alternator?

If you know your Mopar alternators find an older one that puts out 90 Amps.Thery made these for quite awhile. I have a few of them. It looks like your original one but has a 1/4 inch stator instead of a 1/2" looking stator. These put out a lot with out having to change anything. They are not hard to find just have to know what you are looking for.

its 1/2 the size and is a bolt on swap useing the external regulated mini alt with the stock wireing and VR

thats what i read,smaller,120 amps,whats needed

what did I miss..?

I see what you said now

I ment to type alt,not starter

yep I missed it all right

With original wiring, I wouldn't bother with a 120 amp alternator. Do you really NEED that much power? Unless you have heated seats, heated mirrors, heated rear window, AC, NAV system, a thumping stereo AND a high powered ignition you don't NEED 120 amps.

You start putting 120A through that bulkhead connector and you're asking for major trouble.

http://www.allpar.com/history/mopar/electrical.html

one thing needs to be mentioned... you can get 300 amps alt if you want, but if the power demand by the car and options is "just" 60-70 amps you will only get 60-70 amps from it.

so the bulkhead weakness is not in REALLY in direct relationship with alternator output rate. Just that when an alt is able to feed the power demand to the main splice ( located just right before the ammeter coming from alt ) all the power will come from that side and never from the batt, so the load won't be shared by these two terminals ( alt and batt wires ), will run by just the alternator terminal at bulkhead. thats why the upgrade on wiring/terminals is needed.

the advantage of bigger output alts is not more than the iddle charge/feed capacity, more efficient than basic old stock alts, and not really the TOTAL output rate from alt.

however, old BIG Mopar alts are in mostly of cases, enough for a plug and play upgrade... these alts were available since 75/76 years on 78 amps rate. In MOSTLY of cases, with stock equipment or just some "minor" upgrades ( halogens for example ) is more than enough even with AC.

Power windows and similar stuff being just work OCASIONALLY doesn't need to enter on consumption play since won't matter if power is being succked from batt on that moment. Alt will recharge inmediatly that once power window is set.

Honestly the IMPORTANT stuff to be calculated in power consumptions are lights, Blower ( AC or Heater ) if posible at higher speed, wipers in case of a rainy day and Radio. These are the onbly options you mostly could keep WORKING and demanding constant power from alt. Rest are not more than small peaks consumptions ( dome, turning, brakes, lighter ).

Ignition system is allways covered enough by any alternator in mostly of cases, but for more exact calculation, add some amps on the play.

Then if you have some upgrades, electric gas pumps, electric fans and electric water pumps.


Price rate of these 78 amps STOCK ALTS are on $45-60, being a plug and play job if you are already on electronic regulator deal. Just some clearence of alt mounting is missed, being these alts are maybe a couple of milimeters wider, and making a tighter mounting even with block on back side of alt. Is recomenden use a slightly longer belt for it

Nacho what I am gathering is a large alt is actually good to keep everything fed on that side of ammeter plus the 2 wire bypass past the bulkhead, slightly larger wiring/clean connections and a std 78 amp alt so as little current as possible has to go to/from the battery and thru the ammeter

just exactly like that!

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just exactly like that!

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I didn't miss anything!