View Poll Results: What upgrade did you use?
S12
6
24.00%
CS130
6
24.00%
CS`130D
2
8.00%
CS144
11
44.00%
Voters: 25. You may not vote on this poll
Alternator upgrade
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,729
Likes: 2,579
Cannt tell from your post or your profile what year car you have. I think the first question is why upgrade at all? Do you have AC? Have you added anything that is requiring more amperage than whatever is stock on your vehicle. In my case I kept the original 10SI and went from 42 amps to 61 amps.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,451
Likes: 974
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
Cannt tell from your post or your profile what year car you have. I think the first question is why upgrade at all? Do you have AC? Have you added anything that is requiring more amperage than whatever is stock on your vehicle. In my case I kept the original 10SI and went from 42 amps to 61 amps.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 1,028
Cannt tell from your post or your profile what year car you have. I think the first question is why upgrade at all? Do you have AC? Have you added anything that is requiring more amperage than whatever is stock on your vehicle. In my case I kept the original 10SI and went from 42 amps to 61 amps.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
I have some stuff on my '71 that needs extra juice: Electric fans, EFI, Stereo... so 15 years ago I switched over to a 12SI alternator from a late C3. Forget the rating... 80A??? Anyway, it has been fine, no issues.
Last edited by zwede; Dec 15, 2016 at 11:38 AM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,877
Likes: 3,556
From: Fernandina Beach FL
2023 Restomod of the Year finalist
2020 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,284
Likes: 1,171
From: Hermosa
I can't hear it breathing hard from the interior, especially with the side pipes.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 1,028
CS 144 seems to be the most popular.
Interestingly no one has chosen the CS130D. I have had one on my 2003 Silverado for 180,000 miles, and it still works.
Of course that doesn't mean it's better, just different.
Interestingly no one has chosen the CS130D. I have had one on my 2003 Silverado for 180,000 miles, and it still works.
Of course that doesn't mean it's better, just different.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Many years ago i installed higher watt head lights, then a high powered multi spark ignition, and spal twin fans. Then you have to look at the big factor when adding up all the amps being used. That is at what motor RPM is your alternator actually producing "X" amount of amps
So lets say that you are driving down the freeway at 70 mph and you OD motor is only doing 2200 rpm and your original 10SI and 61 amps alternator is only putting out 30 amps of power. So you would actually be draining the battery driving down the road. It is better to go bigger.
Alternators have a max rpm. Like my powermaster is something like 17,000 rpm. well the small pulley on the alternator gives you a 3 to 1 ratio. before 6000 rpm you reach the max. Power masters send along a larger pulley to gear the rpm down.
this is what I have.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/p...make/chevrolet
Last edited by gkull; Dec 16, 2016 at 06:13 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Hey Jeff, wassup you old sparky??? not talked to you in years now....
Almost 1.5 years ago I flipped through LA on the way home from Grass Valley to see my first Grandson/Son/Wife they north of Sacto......but it was just a touch and go.....
as to the alt question....I have been running a 17SI which is larger diameter, but same mounting, and put on a stock C4 pulley and been running Dual Spals and all sorts of crap for many years...not an issue....I use aftermarket gauges, voltmeter of course......thing is rated at 108 amps, uses same two pin regulator, so a plug in...maybe have to change belt though.....get a metric V pulley maybe, to give the belt more traction.....I have a serp drive on the vette 88-91 vette....
years ago I put a CS 144? alt on a motor home, still fine...charges deep cycle HUGE battery that runs a fridge, as well as the rest of the marine deep cycle batteries.....ran it with a older V belt pulley...the ancient type belt that you have to ask for at a parts house anymore or they give us something that don't ride well because it's metric....
Almost 1.5 years ago I flipped through LA on the way home from Grass Valley to see my first Grandson/Son/Wife they north of Sacto......but it was just a touch and go.....as to the alt question....I have been running a 17SI which is larger diameter, but same mounting, and put on a stock C4 pulley and been running Dual Spals and all sorts of crap for many years...not an issue....I use aftermarket gauges, voltmeter of course......thing is rated at 108 amps, uses same two pin regulator, so a plug in...maybe have to change belt though.....get a metric V pulley maybe, to give the belt more traction.....I have a serp drive on the vette 88-91 vette....
years ago I put a CS 144? alt on a motor home, still fine...charges deep cycle HUGE battery that runs a fridge, as well as the rest of the marine deep cycle batteries.....ran it with a older V belt pulley...the ancient type belt that you have to ask for at a parts house anymore or they give us something that don't ride well because it's metric....
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 1,028
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Better watch it man, I can spend ALL your $$$$$.....
Racer
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 314
Likes: 50
From: Woodbury NJ
Thanks for mentioning Bowling Green; I've added that to the list of roadtrip destinations.
On my '74 I've added a rebuilt cs130se which is rated for 130 or 160 amps. It came off a 1992 Caprice which was my donor vehicle for the serpentine system. I dont know what stock rating for that model is, but I had it done at my local shop which is an old scholol place here in S NJ that has done nothing but starters and alternators for two generations. He upgraded my internals and clocked it for my serpentine upgrade.
i'm running dual fans, electric fuel pump, upgraded headlights, vacuum pump, and will most likely do other power hungry upgrades in the future (electric head light motors, etc). The alternature is a one wire set up. The "se" stands for "self exciting" and yes, as mentioned above it charges at low rpms. I also upgraded all my gauges to autometer, which included changing to a voltmeter.
On my '74 I've added a rebuilt cs130se which is rated for 130 or 160 amps. It came off a 1992 Caprice which was my donor vehicle for the serpentine system. I dont know what stock rating for that model is, but I had it done at my local shop which is an old scholol place here in S NJ that has done nothing but starters and alternators for two generations. He upgraded my internals and clocked it for my serpentine upgrade.
i'm running dual fans, electric fuel pump, upgraded headlights, vacuum pump, and will most likely do other power hungry upgrades in the future (electric head light motors, etc). The alternature is a one wire set up. The "se" stands for "self exciting" and yes, as mentioned above it charges at low rpms. I also upgraded all my gauges to autometer, which included changing to a voltmeter.
Last edited by Cool bean; Dec 21, 2016 at 06:34 AM.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 743
Likes: 71
From: Jarrettsville Maryland
I use the Powermaster 12SI (3-wire configuration) in my 79 Corvette with dual SPAL fans. I had one that lasted for just over 30,000 miles before the bearings started squeaking. When it was first installed, the voltage regulator wasn't working right and sent too much amperage and melted some wires. Once that was fixed, it worked great.
When it died, I tried a CS130 out of an 87 Corvette, just with a pulley swap. Every one I tried would "turn off" for short periods of time. I suspect that the headers I had at the time caused the underhood temperatures to be very high and the alternator to overheat. The CS130 works great on my old Buick and DeLoreans. I bought another Powermaster, and it's been working fine ever since.
When it died, I tried a CS130 out of an 87 Corvette, just with a pulley swap. Every one I tried would "turn off" for short periods of time. I suspect that the headers I had at the time caused the underhood temperatures to be very high and the alternator to overheat. The CS130 works great on my old Buick and DeLoreans. I bought another Powermaster, and it's been working fine ever since.
