need some direction
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 699
Likes: 53
From: cape cod MA
need some direction
Ill be adding a vintage air system to my 65 vert this fall ,so im also gonna upgrade the alternator . I currently have a 3 wire with external vr . Ill be replacing it with a 1 wire internally regulated style from mechman alternators . Im told ill have to increase the positive to he battery at least using a #2 , and also a dedicated ground . My question is what do i do with the 2 wire plug from the original alt , and also what do i do with the 4 wire plug for the vr ? Doesnt one of those wires go to my gauge on the dash ? all help appreciated
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,163
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From: Kannapolis NC
I won't attempt to try to help with the conversion, but there's no wire from the alternator going to the dash gauge. There's a wire from the starter and a wire from the horn relay going to the dash gauge. One is black and one is black with white stripe
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,061
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Army
I won’t get into all of the alternator conversion business but your stock Battery dash gauge reads a small difference in electrical potential between two points, one of which is the electrical equivalent of the horn relay buss. If you power your Vintage A/C from other than that point (eg the battery instead) your dash gauge won’t read correctly.
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; Sep 27, 2018 at 09:22 AM.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 699
Likes: 53
From: cape cod MA
okay, so what do i do with the 2 wires from the alt and the 4 wires from the regulator ? just abandon them or do they need to be spliced ? one video i saw jumped out the 2 outside wires on the vr plug and the 2 inside wires on the vr plug is that correct ?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 7,437
Likes: 2,618
From: Really Central IL Illinois
Don't know what you have for an original, but R66 has a 37 amp alternator - non A/C. I have a spare 55 amp that I would put in if I made this change or at least gut the 55 amp and put in the 37 amp frame to maintain the originality of the car (visually). I believe 55 amp is what they used on all of the A/C cars back in the day. I don't know for sure, but I don't think the wiring harness was different between the non A/C and A/C cars back then. I see no advantage to a 1 wire alternator.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: cape cod MA
the alt i have now is trashed , i had it up graded a year or so ago it has an external regulator . I am adding the a/c system , and cooling fan , there is also an amplifier that the car came with. I purchased a mechman alternator that puts out 170 amps , at idle it will put out approx. 114 amps , which if stuck in standstill traffic will provide enough juice to keep everything running efficiently. The new alt has a positive output terminal and they recommend a ground cable be used also it is also internally regulated . the old alternator had a pos term , a grnd term, and a 2 wire plug , my original question is what do i do with a) the 2 wire plug for the old alt. ,and b) the 4 wire plug for the voltage regulator that is no longer needed ? thanks for your help !
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 7,437
Likes: 2,618
From: Really Central IL Illinois
Sorry for the intervention.
With that kind of load on the system, 100 amps plus, I would not be qualified to provide good advice.
I'll bet your sound system really rocks. I would be afraid of it breaking the glass when you crank it up.
Ron
With that kind of load on the system, 100 amps plus, I would not be qualified to provide good advice.
I'll bet your sound system really rocks. I would be afraid of it breaking the glass when you crank it up.
Ron
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 699
Likes: 53
From: cape cod MA
not at all , i appreciate all input , cant get enough info ! P.S. i rarely use the stereo but when i do it does sound good !
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Racer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 372
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If it were mine, I would swap in a 10si alternator of about 63 amps and use the American Auto Wire plug in adapter harness that jumpers the external regulator and adapts the external to internal regulator. I have done this on a couple of 67-72 trucks and it works great. In my applications the original charging wire was sufficient.
https://www.americanautowire.com/sho...conversion-kit
https://www.americanautowire.com/sho...conversion-kit