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I like to have my OEM original C3 1978 alternator restored. Would anyone know who offers this service that I can sent out restore my original numbers matching Alternator?
You can buy a whole rebuild kit for $35. https://www.ebay.com/itm/19092703817...3ABFBM3su67v9h
Diode trio, rectifier, regulator, bearing, etc. Everything you need. These are very simple alternators to rebuild. Clean it and repaint it. Bingo! You're done in 45 minutes.
I just rebuilt my '78 alternator last week.
There’s a guy near me who is excellent. Alstar in Waterford, WI. Jeff is the owner/restorer. Tell him Pastor Mike referred you. He is good, quick, and reasonable. Does a lot of starters /alternators for US car buffs in the UK.
You can buy a whole rebuild kit for $35. https://www.ebay.com/itm/19092703817...3ABFBM3su67v9h
Diode trio, rectifier, regulator, bearing, etc. Everything you need. These are very simple alternators to rebuild. Clean it and repaint it. Bingo! You're done in 45 minutes.
I just rebuilt my '78 alternator last week.
[QUOTE=Greg;1606605416]You can buy a whole rebuild kit for $35. Diode trio, rectifier, regulator, bearing, etc. Everything you need. These are very simple alternators to rebuild. Clean it and repaint it. Bingo! You're done in 45 minutes.
I just rebuilt my '78 alternator last week. Back in and charging like crazy now. [/QUOTE]
Nice work!
So I see its a 78 yet you upgraded (?) to 70 amps? I need to do same for my 78...get parts.
Also, I see you spiffed up not only the alternator but the AIR pump as well. Did you clean before paint...or just paint. If clean, what did you use. I just pulled the pump off and want to clean it up.
Doesn’t ChevyCool rebuild alternators?
Ron just sent me a water pump and starter or my 69 and they look great.
I think he also said he tumbles the cases just like Delco Remy did. www.chevycool.com
edit* Just checked his web site and he does do restore work.
OP, he’s also close to you in AZ
Or just simply buy a new alternator. Remove everything and swap the cases. You now have new everything except your original numbers matching cases. Super simple and you have all new windings.
Nice work!
So I see its a 78 yet you upgraded (?) to 70 amps? I need to do same for my 78...get parts.
Also, I see you spiffed up not only the alternator but the AIR pump as well. Did you clean before paint...or just paint. If clean, what did you use. I just pulled the pump off and want to clean it up.
Thanks. It cleaned up very easily. I just separated the case, buffed it on my wire wheel then sprayed it off with Brake Clean. Painted it with flat aluminum engine spray. Looks like brand new. And yes, I did the same with the air pump.
I've rebuilt many alternators over the years all with good success. I've never had to replace a stator or a rotor yet, they just don't seem to wear.
If you are rebuilding your own altenator....I recommend highly having the case vapor blasted. It is used a LOT in vintage motorcycle restorations......it is easy on the host metal and seals pours in aluminum leaving a like new finish that lasts......
I have had several intake manifolds done and other old bike parts......there is no better way to refurb an aluminum part IMHO......the intakes don't corrode and cleanup is easy with a light wipe of WD40 on a rag.......
'Back in the day' when I belonged to the ISCA and showed some cars, I would rebuild my own alternators because I wanted them done correctly and it was very inexpensive to do them. At shows, people asked me who did it and when I told them 'me', they asked if they could pay me to do theirs. Turned into a side job for a while and I probably did over 100 before I decided it wasn't really worth my time.
You can do it yourself no problem. As Greg said, get you a kit. Take it apart. Clean up the case. Press out the bearing (use two sockets and large C clamp if you don't have a bearing press. EZPZ). Hit the case with a light coat of clear satin (like below) as this will keep it looking like new for a loooooooong time. Get the bolts, nuts, etc. cadmium, etc. plated - not expensive (or clean them up well if they're nice). Put it back together. Take it to Advance or another parts store where you bought the kit and ask them to spin test it for you (they'll do it for free). Reinstall and enjoy your work!!! Best, Paul
Bar Keepers Friend cleanser and a stiff nylon brush to clean.
Did several alternators with this and all the 78/79 power antenna housings when I used to do them.
Well, I was inspired by this thread so I took the 78 AIR pump apart. After removing the diverter valve, pulley, steel spacer, and cast cap, I bead-blasted the pulley and the cap. The spacer I let sit for a couple of days in Evaporust...you can see the results after finishing it with a brass brush and matt finish. The pulley got painted flat black; the original finish was a gray phosphate. I may revisit that finish later. The cast cap got semi-gloss. I cleaned the aluminum case with the Bar Keepers but it really did not remove the aging or staining.
More interesting is the pump guts. I used brake cleaner to clean the bearing that is in a seat just inside the case. I also cleaned a rod that extends from the cast cap, then greased both the rod and the bearing. The rod fits down into a series of baffles, or fins that rotate around the casing, thus creating the pressure that pushes O2 into the diverter valve on its way through the emission hoses and into the manifold pipes. A fun project and only took a couple of weeks tinkering with this, that and the other.
Thanks to forum members here who contributed to this inspiration!
I rebuilt my own alternator and used Baking Soda for the blasting the case and pulley. It came out beautifully and then was rebuilt and put in a bag with the air pulled out. Storing these parts in a vacuum keeps them looking great. I then installed a aftermarket higher amperage alternator which is on the C3 to this day.
The distributor and parts for the transistorized Ignition were cleaned and vacuum bagged as well. The idea is I want to keep the original parts for my engine but am not using them on my L88 replica engine. Down the road the next owner might want to go back to original and this makes their life easier.
Aluminum Cleaner used for welding aluminum works great as well. It removes all the corrosion down to the bare aluminum. I find it to be the easiest way to clean aluminum components.
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Alternator Restoration
