82 altenator upgrade question
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,258
Likes: 38
From: springtown Texas
82 altenator upgrade question
i'm putting a cs144 alt on my 82. my question is this adapter plug from napa all i need ?
and also do 82s need the 35 ohm resistor. i'm kind of confused.
also do i need to add a 10 or 8 gauge wire from the alt to the batt or starter.
and also do 82s need the 35 ohm resistor. i'm kind of confused.
also do i need to add a 10 or 8 gauge wire from the alt to the batt or starter.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
As for the wire gauge, well, that's a big-ole can of worms and I don't honestly know enough about battery charge rate to answer it with confidence.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,454
Likes: 977
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
You don't need the resistor if you have a Gen light but will still need the adapter connector to use a CS-144 with the 12SI wiring adapter. I changed my 100 amp 12 SI alternator to a 140 amp CS-144 alternator last year and the CS-144 is a great alternator, much more durable and reliable than the 12 SI and capable of much better charging at idle than the 12 SI. It was an easy upgrade. I paid $170 for a new CS-144 alternator. I have Hella Euro halogens for all 4 lights, 80/100 Watt low beams and 100 watt high beams and the 12 SI alternator struggled with charging with the lights all on at idle.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 5
From: Middleburg Florida
You might want the check around and see if there's a shop in your area that rebuilds alternators/starters. If there is, you can have them rework your orginal alternator and bring it up to 140 amps. I just had mine done, cost me $100 for the upgrade and rebuild.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,454
Likes: 977
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
I stated above that my 12SI was 100 amps. It was actually 120 amps and I replaced the OEM 63 amp alternator 18 years ago before switching last year to the CS-144. Upping the amperage on the stock 12SI unit is possible but not the best route to go for maximum performance since the 12SI units were never designed to handle high amperage-it can be done but the performance especially at idle will not match a CS-144 140 amp alternator, designed for that high an amperage rating from the beginning. Cooling a high amperage 12SI unit is the critical factor-the stock unit's housing will get VERY hot under a high amperage load which will eventually kill the unit.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
