Question about alternator
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 4,931
Likes: 3
From: Fort Lauderdale FL
Originally Posted by JrRifleCoach
CHeck with your local NAPA store. My buddy just ordered a set made by Belkin for the Corvette. They had to order 'em. Can't say for how much..... 
-JRC-
-JRC-
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From: Toa Baja Puerto Rico
One other reasons the alternator gets hot is the high ambient temperatures inside the engine bay. The radiator fan is pulling air thru the hot radiator and part of this air is hitting the alternator. Plus, the alternator bracket is connected to the engine block and that, my friend, gets very hot. Heat is transferred to the alternator via the bracket, so that makes it even hotter.
Personally, my 87 Coupe went thru 6 alternators in less than 2 years. Luckily they had lifetime warranties (from Pep Boys). In fact, one of them lasted less than a day. In all but one case the battery tested good. The last alternator has been in the car for 2 years with no problem. This month I took a ten-day cruise to some Carribbean Islands and when I returned home the car started at the first try with no problem whatsoever. Of course, my car is a daily driver and sees 100 mph occasionally, at least once a week.
Good luck.
Personally, my 87 Coupe went thru 6 alternators in less than 2 years. Luckily they had lifetime warranties (from Pep Boys). In fact, one of them lasted less than a day. In all but one case the battery tested good. The last alternator has been in the car for 2 years with no problem. This month I took a ten-day cruise to some Carribbean Islands and when I returned home the car started at the first try with no problem whatsoever. Of course, my car is a daily driver and sees 100 mph occasionally, at least once a week.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 4,931
Likes: 3
From: Fort Lauderdale FL
Thanks for the info, I appreciate it but I need to know where I can find both red and black cables for my battey. No one seems to carry the same ones for the vette and the NAPA I went to insisted they only came in black. To me that doesnt sound right.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 14,130
Likes: 7
Cruise-In II Veteran
With the digital dash,it is NORMAL to see 13.1-14.7. Fully warmed up,its not uncommon to see 13 volts or so.
The dash will many times read lower than what is actually there.I recall my scanner showing a higher voltage than what the dash was showing.
Another issue,is the mid 80s alternator is a POS.You can upgrade to the CS144 units found in the LT1 cars.They last a long long time.
I think you have to file a bolt hole to make it fit,but its a far better unit than the old ones.
I went through alternators like crazy with my former 86.Also,I have a 95 GM van that has the CS144 alternator.I had the bearings replaced once at 140K + miles and then the regulator replaced at 186K miles.It now has 205K miles on it and still going strong.
The dash will many times read lower than what is actually there.I recall my scanner showing a higher voltage than what the dash was showing.
Another issue,is the mid 80s alternator is a POS.You can upgrade to the CS144 units found in the LT1 cars.They last a long long time.
I think you have to file a bolt hole to make it fit,but its a far better unit than the old ones.
I went through alternators like crazy with my former 86.Also,I have a 95 GM van that has the CS144 alternator.I had the bearings replaced once at 140K + miles and then the regulator replaced at 186K miles.It now has 205K miles on it and still going strong.
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
The vette is a bitch that likes to be driven...
If you let her sit for too long, too often... she dries up because she's always drawing a little current.
The C4's need to be run often to have a reliable battery/alternator because the design is to replace startup power loss and minimal constant drain (some fellas run 140 amp units for example because of other mods).
My daily driver doesn't have the problem because the battery doesn't drain too low to put an unreasonable load through the system (to recharge the draining battery).
I say take her for a ride more often and you'll have fewer problems. Electrically that is, bearings and brakes are another story though...
my2cw
If you let her sit for too long, too often... she dries up because she's always drawing a little current.
The C4's need to be run often to have a reliable battery/alternator because the design is to replace startup power loss and minimal constant drain (some fellas run 140 amp units for example because of other mods).
My daily driver doesn't have the problem because the battery doesn't drain too low to put an unreasonable load through the system (to recharge the draining battery).
I say take her for a ride more often and you'll have fewer problems. Electrically that is, bearings and brakes are another story though...
my2cw
You are exactly right!
