I was wandering if anyone has any good (very specific) diagrams or directions as to how to convert from a 3 wire alternator to a 1 wire. also which one would work... I've searched for 1 wire alternators before but they always ask for "case style" or something of the sort. thanks.
David; my alt. is a 95 amp/3 wire alt from a 1998-2002 F450-F900 truck, and it works fine. It has the proper case style, and it fits right on our brackets.
are you talking about an ex. reg. to an int. reg.? if so the one Earl, has is a good one. that is the same one i have. this is Earls before and after pics. when i did his swap. ...:Handshake...
I used a GM alternator. Only 65 AMPs, and I needed to drill out the top hole a little to fit my long bolt through it. Only paid $35 or so new for it...one wire to the hot, and a little jumper on the bottom. There is a final wire if you want to wire it to the red ALT light in the car.
If you want to run a true 1 wire, its really easy. There is, as the name implys, only one wire, the battery cable. No wire to turn it on from the ignition or anything. These are also called self-exciting alternators. When you have one of these, you have to "blip" the throttle for a moment after startup to get it to kick on, they dont usually kick on initially until the moter gets over 1500-2000 rpm. They typically don't charge as well as standard alternators because they have no remote voltage sense wire. They are good for street rods where you have no electrical system to begin with, they really aren't an upgrage, more like a step sideways.
the only advantage to one wire is that there is less wiring. that is the ONLY advantage! If I had to do another one, I'd put an old 12SI GM alternator on there and be done with it. Drill out the top hole and that's it. EIther that or the 3G Ford alternator which is bulletproof, and it works a hundred times better at low speeds. With the 3G Ford, you can use a smaller crank pulley to slow the accessories down (frees up some power) but the alternator will still charge just fine. http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2001/03/paperformance/
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=SUM%2D810302P&N=700+4294908331+4294840126+115&autoview=sku This is the kind of alternator i got for my maverick. except, i got the serpentine. You can get them, a lot cheaper, without polished. i just liked the looks, and the 1 wire with our case....
It will only charge as much as is required to keep the battery charged up. It won't overcharge unless something is wrong such AS a bad regulator.
This is the same one as I have on my car...works great, very simple to install, hook up the battery wire and go.
