Restoring Alternator
03-17-2014, 02:54 PM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
Restoring Alternator
I am restoring my 72 convertible and I have the original date coded alternator and would like to have it rebuilt and restored. Does anybody know who can do a good job without just bead blasting it.
03-17-2014, 03:19 PM
#2
Le Mans Master
The rebuild part is easy- all the parts are available. Bearings, brushes, rotor, stator, diode trio, rectifier are all probably available from NAPA. Getting the case to look original might be the tough part. I'd think that bead blasting would clean it fine, but it would also make the case "look" odd from the factory finish.
03-17-2014, 03:54 PM
#3
Team Owner
Member Since: Sep 2006
Location: Westminster Maryland
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Hi 69,
One person to check with is John Pirkle. 706-855-1177
I agree with staying far away from blasting it with anything.
On my own alternator I cleaned both parts of the case with aluminum jelly and a soft brass brush. This seemed to give it a fresh, but not too restored, appearance.
Regards,
Alan
One person to check with is John Pirkle. 706-855-1177
I agree with staying far away from blasting it with anything.
On my own alternator I cleaned both parts of the case with aluminum jelly and a soft brass brush. This seemed to give it a fresh, but not too restored, appearance.
Regards,
Alan
03-17-2014, 04:23 PM
#4
Melting Slicks
John Pirkle restored my alternator, he did an excellent job. Getting a hold of him can be a bit tricky, and he's not quick, but the final product is good.
Before:
After:
Before:
After:
03-17-2014, 05:31 PM
#6
Melting Slicks
I don't think John ever responded to any of my emails. Returning voicemails is not his forté either, you have to get him on the phone.
Mr. Sims knows of another source if you are not interested in communication issues. Hopefully he chimes in.
Mr. Sims knows of another source if you are not interested in communication issues. Hopefully he chimes in.
03-17-2014, 05:41 PM
#7
Melting Slicks
Ken Bruno motorsports can do the case or the entire thing. He coats it with an undetectable clear coat.
Google him. He did 2 cases for me, great job, quick and reasonable.
Google him. He did 2 cases for me, great job, quick and reasonable.
03-17-2014, 06:58 PM
#8
Team Owner
Can you do your own work? Or does someone need to do it for you?
The alternator is one of the easiest DIY projects that you can find on a C3. Remove the spindle nut and four 1/4" hex-head bolts and it has been disassembled. The Chevrolet Chassis Service Manual has detailed exploded view drawings to show how it is reassembled. You can check all the diodes (once the electrical connections are opened) with a cheapo ohmmeter (like the freebies that Harbor Freight give out).
[Note: You can't use a really good ohmmeter with a high impedence input to check the diodes in that way, as there is not enough 'juice' sent to each diodes to activate it.]
Check each diode in one direction and you should see low resistance; check it with the leads reveresed and you should see high resistance. If the alternator was working OK when you took it off the car, they are unlikely to be defective.
You can wire brush the case to remove oxidation/corrosion/dirt and then just wash it well. I chose to also remove the three diodes in the rear housing and the bearings from each half of the housing, then clean the outer housings well and shoot them with a couple of coats of VHT aluminum paint. Then I baked the housings in a toaster oven (per can instructions) and, when done, rebuilt the assembly with new bearings and the old diodes.
The finished result....well, here's a photo:
{Sorry, I don't have a photo of JUST the alternator.}
That was 5 years ago and it STILL looks just like in that photo. NO ONE can tell that it is even painted; and it NEVER TARNISHES!!!
Wish you luck!
The alternator is one of the easiest DIY projects that you can find on a C3. Remove the spindle nut and four 1/4" hex-head bolts and it has been disassembled. The Chevrolet Chassis Service Manual has detailed exploded view drawings to show how it is reassembled. You can check all the diodes (once the electrical connections are opened) with a cheapo ohmmeter (like the freebies that Harbor Freight give out).
[Note: You can't use a really good ohmmeter with a high impedence input to check the diodes in that way, as there is not enough 'juice' sent to each diodes to activate it.]
Check each diode in one direction and you should see low resistance; check it with the leads reveresed and you should see high resistance. If the alternator was working OK when you took it off the car, they are unlikely to be defective.
You can wire brush the case to remove oxidation/corrosion/dirt and then just wash it well. I chose to also remove the three diodes in the rear housing and the bearings from each half of the housing, then clean the outer housings well and shoot them with a couple of coats of VHT aluminum paint. Then I baked the housings in a toaster oven (per can instructions) and, when done, rebuilt the assembly with new bearings and the old diodes.
The finished result....well, here's a photo:
{Sorry, I don't have a photo of JUST the alternator.}
That was 5 years ago and it STILL looks just like in that photo. NO ONE can tell that it is even painted; and it NEVER TARNISHES!!!
Wish you luck!
Last edited by 7T1vette; 03-17-2014 at 07:04 PM.
03-17-2014, 07:54 PM
#9
The main thing is to not change the exterior contours. This means cleaning the aluminum's pores without removing any metal. A plastic tooth brush and a little Comet/Ajax, very fine Scotchbrite pad and WD40 or dish soap and a brass brush as Alan suggested. I have seen some brass brushes leave a little brass coloring on some parts. Depends on the brush. Stainless steel brushes work also, just be gentle. mike...
03-17-2014, 08:20 PM
#11
Drifting
Thread Starter
[QUOTE=7T1vette;1586430051]Can you do your own work? Or does someone need to do it for you?
I have rebuilt alternators, starters and other things. I just want to get the correct plating on the fan and pulley. The case is not that bad and the alternator does work. I could probably clean it like others have said to use a brush.
I have rebuilt alternators, starters and other things. I just want to get the correct plating on the fan and pulley. The case is not that bad and the alternator does work. I could probably clean it like others have said to use a brush.
03-18-2014, 06:23 AM
#13
Melting Slicks
