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Old Sep 25, 2018 | 12:01 PM
  #1  
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Default Alternator Upgrade

Hi Guys,
I will be adding electric fans, big amp sound system, ( will be removing stock AM/FM stereo,) (1972), and future electronics, and was hoping for direction on alternator upgrades others have made and what additional mods if any were required.
Thanks much.
Dave
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Old Sep 25, 2018 | 12:34 PM
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The wiring...originally these cars were not designed to handle big current draw items. I'd also look at replacing the ammeter with a voltmeter- as upgrading the wiring will make the original meter not read correctly.

Richard
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Old Sep 25, 2018 | 03:12 PM
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I recently upgraded my '68 to a CS144 alternator out of a 1993 Cadillac. I had to modify the mounting bracket by adding roughly 1in to it. Also added lots of upgraded wiring like Richard mentioned.
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Old Sep 25, 2018 | 03:37 PM
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I knew I was going to electric fans and different stereo so I upgraded to 100 Amp alternator and went to 4 gauge wiring (instead of original 12 gauge) from alternator to battery (both hot & ground).

Richard
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Old Sep 25, 2018 | 03:49 PM
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I upgraded my '69 to a Powermaster CS130 style 140 amp alternator. It fit exactly as stock, and a wiring adapter fits it to your stock wiring. I added a wire upgrade from the alt. to the starter (if I remember correctly). I also exchanged my ammeter for a voltmeter, since the ammeter read incorrectly after I installed the electric fan.






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Old Sep 25, 2018 | 05:02 PM
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This has been asked and answered MANY times in just the last few months. Use the SEARCH function to pull up all the past info on this issue. No reason for folks to just keep duplicating the info over and over again.
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Old Sep 25, 2018 | 06:14 PM
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CS-144 install on a 72 BB with wiring changes. Also replaced amp with volt gauge
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...des-72-bb.html

Moved to the other side since then for various reasons
M
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Old Sep 25, 2018 | 07:42 PM
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Originally Posted by 7T1vette
This has been asked and answered MANY times in just the last few months. Use the SEARCH function to pull up all the past info on this issue. No reason for folks to just keep duplicating the info over and over again.
So Sorry to offend you. I am amazed how snarky and rude some people are when hiding behind their keyboard. It's too bad we aren't closer so I can provide you a crash course in public relations that you clearly deserve
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Old Sep 25, 2018 | 07:48 PM
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Originally Posted by C3 Stroker
I upgraded my '69 to a Powermaster CS130 style 140 amp alternator. It fit exactly as stock, and a wiring adapter fits it to your stock wiring. I added a wire upgrade from the alt. to the starter (if I remember correctly). I also exchanged my ammeter for a voltmeter, since the ammeter read incorrectly after I installed the electric fan.





Thanks much .At the risk of agitating 7T1Vvette, may I ask you what you did with the wiring to the ammeter when you upgraded the alternator? Thanks again
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Old Sep 25, 2018 | 08:36 PM
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Originally Posted by platinummaker
Thanks much .At the risk of agitating 7T1Vvette, may I ask you what you did with the wiring to the ammeter when you upgraded the alternator? Thanks again
Wiring the voltmeter is super simple...getting to is the tougher part!!!

Just disconnect the ammeter wire ( IIRC black w/ white stripe)- and zip tie to secure.

As far as the Voltmeter- use pink wire for the 12v source- used on fuel and water temp gauges- then the meter will ground itself to the metal cluster. So really one wire hook-up.

Here's a nice clean way to do it-


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Old Sep 25, 2018 | 09:28 PM
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Originally Posted by platinummaker
Thanks much .At the risk of agitating 7T1Vvette, may I ask you what you did with the wiring to the ammeter when you upgraded the alternator? Thanks again
As Richard says, remove the amp gauge wire, tape it aside. Jumper a +12 volt wire from the fuel gauge to the pos terminal of the voltmeter. The ground connection is made when the console is bolted back up.
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Old Sep 26, 2018 | 05:33 AM
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Originally Posted by C3 Stroker
I upgraded my '69 to a Powermaster CS130 style 140 amp alternator. It fit exactly as stock, and a wiring adapter fits it to your stock wiring. I added a wire upgrade from the alt. to the starter (if I remember correctly). I also exchanged my ammeter for a voltmeter, since the ammeter read incorrectly after I installed the electric fan.



Where did you source the volt meter from? T
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Old Sep 26, 2018 | 08:46 AM
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I went PowerMaster 140 amp alternator with the heavy duty Alan Grove brackets. 0 gauge wire to the battery and the starter from the alternator. I have dual fans, a big stereo, and lots of electrical add ons.

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Old Sep 26, 2018 | 08:50 AM
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Originally Posted by terrys6t8roadster
Where did you source the volt meter from? T
Me Too.
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Old Sep 26, 2018 | 09:14 AM
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I got mine from here- http://www.corvetteinstrumentservice.com/index.html
Now there are several other that have them -
Full throttle- http://www.fullthrottlecorvette.com/...rs_p_2980.html


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Old Sep 26, 2018 | 09:16 AM
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Thanks Richard!
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Old Sep 26, 2018 | 11:40 AM
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platinummaker:
You can call it 'snarky'... I call it efficient. I'm actually trying to HELP you but you just don't know it. Rather than spending a week or more to slowly let folks add pieces to this puzzle on your thread, you could have gone to the SEARCH function and read everything you will be gathering and MUCH MORE in less than a day!
But, if you want to be an *** about it, go ahead...
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Old Sep 26, 2018 | 03:54 PM
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Originally Posted by terrys6t8roadster
Where did you source the volt meter from? T
Zip Corvette.....(they also have '72-'74 gauges).....https://www.zip-corvette.com/68-71-v...gine-swap.html
https://www.zip-corvette.com/72-74-v...gine-swap.html

Last edited by C3 Stroker; Sep 26, 2018 at 03:58 PM.
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Old Sep 26, 2018 | 08:12 PM
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Mine came from CC (p/n 393208) I believe all the major vendors have them now

Couple of years now with no issues
M
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Old Sep 26, 2018 | 09:08 PM
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Good luck with the voltmeter wiring. The conversion looks pretty easy.

kdf
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