New alternator question
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,783
Likes: 15
From: Northern California
Back to your original question.
In your application, a stock alternator for your electrical system is adequite but, since you're going to replace your alternator and you've rebuilt your original one many times before, it would make sense to just get the CS144 since you'll get the added benefit of a bigger case and bearings which will help the alternator run cooler.
True, in your application you don't need a higher amp alternator but, for $35 more (Delco reman, Napa Auto), you could put in a more Reliable alternator and have piece of mind.
In your application, a stock alternator for your electrical system is adequite but, since you're going to replace your alternator and you've rebuilt your original one many times before, it would make sense to just get the CS144 since you'll get the added benefit of a bigger case and bearings which will help the alternator run cooler.
True, in your application you don't need a higher amp alternator but, for $35 more (Delco reman, Napa Auto), you could put in a more Reliable alternator and have piece of mind.
Last edited by GKK; Mar 1, 2007 at 04:00 PM.
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
Likes: 71
From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
with most of that statement.But...... I will add this.......A higher power CAPABILITY will make the alternator run significantly cooler even with no unusual loads on the system buss.
Example:
You have a 105 amp alternator. With all your electrical loads applied to the system bus the current is 90 amps (theretical number, could be MORE).
The load (90 amps) is consuming 85% of the capacity of your 105 amp alternator. The result is the rectifiers, field coil, etc in your 105 amp alternator will generate considerable heat.
How much heat? 85% of the amount of heat the alternator, as a system, was designed to withstand.
Now add MORE heat from the surrounding engine, exhaust manifolds, etc. Unfortunately your 105 amp alternator is now stressed to it's maximum potential even though the LOAD on it is less than it's 105 amp max design load capacity.
How good an idea does that 105 amp alternator sound like now?
I'm a big believer in engineering BUT...... But, the 'managers' (bean counters) are usually in a position to affect the final outcome of a system in terms of what PARTS are used that control the 'bottom line'.
The results are a LOT of systems are sent out the door with 'marginal' parts that will last for awhile. The 'bet' is they will last until the product is out of warranty.
This is a typical case of 'management' thinking they know more than engineers. Call a guy a 'manager' and he thinks he's a real rocket scientist. Doesn't matter if he's just the 'manager' of the supply cabinet.
Dammit, it sucks but that's the world we live in.
Anyway........... a larger amperage alternator WILL run cooler and last longer.
Get a CS-144 alternator and you won't have to change the danged thing again in another 16~18 months.
It WILL run cooler and last longer and it will do it even if you DON"T have additional electrical buss loads than what your Vette came with from the factory.
In honor of CFI-EFI............RACE ON
End of story. Larger units dissapate heat better.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 7,839
Likes: 22
From: San Diego, Ca
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 1
From: Zagreb, Croatia
It looks like there are a lot of different housing versions of CS144
available. Which one should be easiest fit? From LT-1 vette?
What year, or were all on LT-1 vettes the same?
available. Which one should be easiest fit? From LT-1 vette?
What year, or were all on LT-1 vettes the same?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 12,182
Likes: 1
From: Partying with the Cowboys cheerleaders in Mt. Olive, New Jersey
Read all the replies and most made sense. I had switched my broken lowpo alternator to cs144 many moons ago and never looked back. Only prob was needing to mod the original bracket.
Got mine here: http://www.alternatorparts.com./CS-1...cial_offer.htm
Was my cs144 overpriced? Maybe. Did I get more juice than needed? Perhaps. But after the switch, I've never had charging issues, dim lights, and check this out: overall low output at stoplight idling during a freezing cold winter night with heat on high, defogger on, defroster running, radio cranking Metallica.
Me likey beefy alternator
Got mine here: http://www.alternatorparts.com./CS-1...cial_offer.htm
Was my cs144 overpriced? Maybe. Did I get more juice than needed? Perhaps. But after the switch, I've never had charging issues, dim lights, and check this out: overall low output at stoplight idling during a freezing cold winter night with heat on high, defogger on, defroster running, radio cranking Metallica.
Me likey beefy alternator
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 5
From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas
If you are going to order a CS144 for a 1990 car you must give the supplier your year and engine size to get the correct mount. You won't have much luck picking one yourself without some research.