What alternator do you run on your 440? Where is best place to get it?

[dspaulding70]

Any other opinions I should hear before purchasing one for my new 440 rebuild?

Thanks.

[68charger383]

Powermaster 80 amp, purchased from summit.

When installing the new alternator, run an 8 gauge wire from the alternator to your ammeter and your whole car will have plenty of Amps to handle your cars needs.

Here's a great article on the different mods suggested:
http://www.allpar.com/history/mopar/electrical.html

Here's also the best discussion on upgrading your system
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,33574.0.html

[JR]

The www.440source.com Nippendenso alternator upgrade. Doesn't put out that much more juice than a nice factory one, but it is reliable, smaller, lighter, and looks better under hood.

[Chatt69chgr]

I ordered a rebuilt unit by ACDelco.  They offer a quality rebuild--see their website.  Nobody locally carried the ACDelco rebuilt unit.  Got to be careful who the rebuilder is since a lot of the rebuilt units are not much good.  Napa usually carries good parts.  You might check them.

[moparguy01]

I wouldnt buy a electrical part from Napa unless you really like replacing them. they usually are covered in warranty at least the first 2 or 3 times they burn out.....

i'm running a stock reman alternator from checker auto parts.

[dspaulding70]

As always, thanks for the help.  Going to get mine today.  One last question.....1 wire alternator or not?  That is the question.

[472 R/T SE]

Don't wanna go too big if you're runnin' the original dash harness.   

[John_Kunkel]

The www.440source.com Nippendenso alternator upgrade. Doesn't put out that much more juice than a nice factory one, but it is reliable, smaller, lighter, and looks better under hood.

Some of those little Densos are rated at 140 amps.

[Chatt69chgr]

That article I referenced in Mopar Enthuiast (I think that's the name--issue on newstands now) shows a dual field alternator which was used from 1970 forward.  You would use this alternator with the Mopar Voltage regulator they still sell that bolts on the firewall.  In fact, they are now selling a reproduction of this regulator in black correct for 70 and 71's (mopar that is).  This alternator is called the squareback.  The one used 69 and down is the round back.  The article says you can use the dual field alternator in a single wire application by shorting out one field to the case.  I have never done this--------am just quoting what the magazine article says.  I think most modern rebuilt alternators are 60 plus amps.  Article also says that NOS parts (I don't know if that's the right name) sells a replacement for the old electromechanical regular used in the single field application that has modern guts but looks externally like the old regulator.  Probably need to go to Books-a-Million and check out the article.  May want to be careful about putting a much higher current alternator in there if you have the original harness.  I think the std round back alternators were something like 43 Amps output.

[dkn1997]

you don't need to waste your time on aftermarket brackets or powermasters or whatever.  get a stock alt off an 02 dodge ram van (or just find that part number) and it bolts right into your stock big block alternator brackets.  it's even dual field externally regulated too.  if you are already dual field, then your only wiring change is to add a 4g main charge wire from alternator to starter relay.  this avoids putting all of the current from a modern alt through your lousy firewall bulkhead connector and amp gauge. 

[tommymac]

I think I just got a square back instead of the round one , it looks the same from the front but the back has a square bottom to it. Has visible diaodes there. it also has two plug on ternimals and one bolt on one,My old one has one plug on and one bolt on ,New one is Chrome from Summit. Can I still use this one and not hook up the ground wire.; one of the spade plug ons.

[Goldfinger71]

I just picked up a 78 amp alt from Orielly.

[Plumcrazy]

It's not a 440 but it's close enough. 

[69chargerR/T]

you don't need to waste your time on aftermarket brackets or powermasters or whatever.  get a stock alt off an 02 dodge ram van (or just find that part number) and it bolts right into your stock big block alternator brackets.  it's even dual field externally regulated too.  if you are already dual field, then your only wiring change is to add a 4g main charge wire from alternator to starter relay.  this avoids putting all of the current from a modern alt through your lousy firewall bulkhead connector and amp gauge. 

dkn1997, I looked on napa on line  and all the alts. they list for an 02 ram van come with a 7 groove pulley not a v-belt pulley. Did you change the pulley to a v-belt pulley, if so where did you get the pulley. Are you sure you used an 02 ram van alt ? And it fit a 440 with the stock brackets.

[2Gunz]

Try a 1998 or 1989 dodge cargo van.... I forget which year.


Its like 126ish amps.

Thats what I have in my car.


I have pictures of the box and all in this thread.....


http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,19802.0.html

[dkn1997]

you don't need to waste your time on aftermarket brackets or powermasters or whatever.  get a stock alt off an 02 dodge ram van (or just find that part number) and it bolts right into your stock big block alternator brackets.  it's even dual field externally regulated too.  if you are already dual field, then your only wiring change is to add a 4g main charge wire from alternator to starter relay.  this avoids putting all of the current from a modern alt through your lousy firewall bulkhead connector and amp gauge. 

dkn1997, I looked on napa on line  and all the alts. they list for an 02 ram van come with a 7 groove pulley not a v-belt pulley. Did you change the pulley to a v-belt pulley, if so where did you get the pulley. Are you sure you used an 02 ram van alt ? And it fit a 440 with the stock brackets.

Absolutely used that alt..got it off ebay from a shop that does ambulance conversions with dual altrnators.  yes it had a serp pulley pulley. with very little ingenuity, you can use a pulley from a gm car. I took the alt to a shop that rebuilds them and they had a box of pulleys under the counter and I just picked one that fit.  a few more details, check these links. sort of half assed tech articles I did for 2 other boards I go to. 

the long story, but has every little detail
http://www.moparchat.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61642

the readers digest version
http://cuda66273.proboards23.com/index.cgi?board=Tech&action=display&thread=1081309590

[69chargerR/T]

Try a 1998 or 1989 dodge cargo van.... I forget which year.


Its like 126ish amps.

Thats what I have in my car.


I have pictures of the box and all in this thread.....


http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,19802.0.html

2Gunz, I read your post on your alt swap and you said that the pulley is a little to big to get full voltage at idle but it is close. Do you know what the voltage reading was at idle with and with out the lights on. I'm just wondering how many volts you had at idle with the lights on, I want to put in an alt set up that will work with lights on in gear and not have the lights go dim like all the old mopars do. Thanks, Alan

[Plumcrazy]

Try a 1998 or 1989 dodge cargo van.... I forget which year.


Its like 126ish amps.

Thats what I have in my car.


I have pictures of the box and all in this thread.....


http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,19802.0.html

2Gunz, I read your post on your alt swap and you said that the pulley is a little to big to get full voltage at idle but it is close. Do you know what the voltage reading was at idle with and with out the lights on. I'm just wondering how many volts you had at idle with the lights on, I want to put in an alt set up that will work with lights on in gear and not have the lights go dim like all the old mopars do. Thanks, Alan

The alternator in the picture I posted above came from Mancini racing.   It already has a single groove pulley on it but you do need an electrical connector.

With my car in gear, with the headlights on, the heater blower running full speed, the wipers running and the stereo with subwoofer cranked up, it still shows a slight charge on the ammeter.  The only way I could get it to show a discharge at idle was to turn on the high beams, turn the wipers on high speed and the rear defogger running high speed also.  It only showed about a 3 to 5 amps discharge with all that running.

It's a huge improvement over the stock alternators.

[69chargerR/T]

Try a 1998 or 1989 dodge cargo van.... I forget which year.


Its like 126ish amps.

Thats what I have in my car.


I have pictures of the box and all in this thread.....


http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,19802.0.html

2Gunz, I read your post on your alt swap and you said that the pulley is a little to big to get full voltage at idle but it is close. Do you know what the voltage reading was at idle with and with out the lights on. I'm just wondering how many volts you had at idle with the lights on, I want to put in an alt set up that will work with lights on in gear and not have the lights go dim like all the old mopars do. Thanks, Alan

2gunz, you said that the pulley is a little to big to get full voltage at idle, can you tell me what you meant by that. I'm looking at doing the same swap,do you know what your voltage reading was at idle   Alan

[2Gunz]

Sorry for the delay..........


Basically at idle the voltage output is just shy of "level".

Meaning its charging at idle but if you go up 200 RPM and the lights get a little brighter.

I did meter it and found it to be more than acceptable at the time.

And come to think of it I believe the battery was was mostly dead at the time.

So it would have been extra power hungry at the time.  And i really havent noticed it being

Dim since.


Anyway even being a little short voltage wise at idle its prolly charging way more than the stock

one at full boar.

Ill try to take some voltage readings for you when I get a chance.

The Alt and Optima battery are one of the best upgrades I have done for that car.

I wouldnt hesitate a second on doing it.

[2Gunz]

Sorry for the delay.


Voltage with car off is 12.5 Volts

Car at idle 13.8 - 14.4 (idle kinda wanders when its cold, I suspect running smooth it would settle into a steady 14.4)

Car just above idle - 15.5 Volts and doesnt go higher reguardless of engine RPM


I checked out the headlight dimming thing and you can barely tell the difference between idle and just above idle.

I have done a headlight relay upgrade and that Im sure helps that as well.

Hope this helps.

[69chargerR/T]

Sorry for the delay.


Voltage with car off is 12.5 Volts

Car at idle 13.8 - 14.4 (idle kinda wanders when its cold, I suspect running smooth it would settle into a steady 14.4)

Car just above idle - 15.5 Volts and doesnt go higher reguardless of engine RPM


I checked out the headlight dimming thing and you can barely tell the difference between idle and just above idle.

I have done a headlight relay upgrade and that Im sure helps that as well.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the info 2Gunz, I did the headlight relay also. It looks like the alt. swap you did works good, I'm going to do the same swap thanks for the info Alan

[2Gunz]

Sure man.

If you need anything else let me know.