alternator

[onebadmopar]

got my engine compartment pretty much all detailed and looking good only thing buggin me is the alternator it looks crappy can it be painted without hurting the internal parts does anyone know ?

[Nacho-RT74]

honestly if you have that good your engine bay as you described, I would make the effor to make the alt touch up outside, and IN FACT dissasembling the housing... is not that hard.

I wouldn't paint... my votes are for natural finish, glass beaded if not chromed

[onebadmopar]

thanks nacho reading alot of youre threads about electronics seems you know youre stuff i,ll just leave it for now chances are im gonna need to upgrade it anyway its the stock alterantor for a 69 383 charger but i did add the mopar performance elctronic ignition upgrade per their instructions but i see alot here say i,ll need / want a bigger alternator elctronics isnt my specialty so im probably going to need a good shopt to do that

[Nacho-RT74]

If you want the original stock look, there are upgrade kits up to 105 amps, on your same old alt housing. and REALLY is easy to do. Only "hard" part if we can say that, is sold the stator wires in to pressed diodes on roundbacks... squarebacks are LOT easier

However, dunno if you already have elec regulator, but if you don't, will change to, since elec ign modules need better average power to work properlly. Peaks on power caused for unaccurate charge load, makes overheat modules, melting the back "paste" and geting exposed to elements, then water enter on module and burn.

this is local experiences, made by bad choose on Venezuelan Chrysler plant on alternators ( some tiny motorolas alts used )

[onebadmopar]

i have a guy i know that rebuilds alternators i bet i could get him to do it

[Nacho-RT74]

hehe, just edited and add some more info in a while you posted

[onebadmopar]

i have the original style regulator black box goes on the fire wall and 2-3 wires plug onto it directions didint say anything about changing that

[Nacho-RT74]

the black big box from 60s is mechanical regulator and matches with unmodified stock single field roundbacks alts

the flat ( also black in mostly of cases ) with rubber plug regulator is electronic reg and matches with unmodified double field squarebacks alts

squarebacks double field alts can work like a single field simply grounding one of the fields.

roundbacks single field alts can work like a double field alt drilling a hole on rear housig a fitting a brush isolator and "pronged" brush ( straight kind ) to get now a double field alt.

technically both are double field really, simply than double field alts are feeded from exterior ( both wired ), and single field are with one of the sources being the same chassis ground

[onebadmopar]

SO will my regulator work ?

[Nacho-RT74]

I didn't get if your alt uses 2 or 3 wires.

mechanical regulator is two wires to alt ( green field and black output  )

elect regulator is 3 wires to alt ( two fields, green and blue, and black output )

[myk]

i,ll need / want a bigger alternator elctronics isnt my specialty so im probably going to need a good shopt to do that

Upgrading to the 70's style regulator and 'alt is a very easy thing to do.  You'll splice together a few wires and run a new one to the 'alt; very easy to do and if you're ready we'll walk you through it...

[Nacho-RT74]

i,ll need / want a bigger alternator elctronics isnt my specialty so im probably going to need a good shopt to do that

Upgrading to the 70's style regulator and 'alt is a very easy thing to do. 

LATES 70s... or 80s

earliers 70s are the same than 60s, just with double field source

[myk]

Aren't the 70's alternators rated at higher amps than the 60's ones?  The single field 'alt I had was rated at 50 amps.  The '70 dual field 'alt I bought recently is rated at 65 amps...

[Nacho-RT74]

yeah they are, depending what one from 70s you get

[onebadmopar]

appears mine just has 2 wires one that plugs into the alternator like  a spade terminal and the other is is the main wire with a loop and a nut holding it

[Nacho-RT74]

that is double field, and no, won't match your regulator BIG BLACK BOX what is mechanical

need:

1. change to electronic regulator

or

2. ground one of the brushes

I would go with electronic regulator. Need then get the regulator, the plug and add a wire

everything depends if we are talking about the BIG BLACK BOX like is the mechanical regulator

[onebadmopar]

yes its a big square box type thing i,ll take pics of it tomorrow night .......my question is this i had points system and upgraded to elctronic......... so if it dont work wqhy dothey sell this upgrade to begin with ?

[myk]

It does work, you just have to install the electronic regulator...

[onebadmopar]

now ive read that some of these (black box ones are elctronic but they look mechanical to maintain the stock looking appearance if this is true is there a way for me to look at it and distinguish  wich one it is .. reason for all this is im ready to start it this weekend to break in motor and i wont find the stuff you guys are talking about in time but i will upgrade it for sure i dont need any fores i know that much

[myk]

I'm under the impression that you'll have to crack it open to see for sure.  Anyone else?

[Nacho-RT74]

the electronic units woking inside stock mechanical boxes, still work like a mechanical ones, just more eficient like the newer electronic units. That simply means you need to wire those like the old ones, single field, being one of the brushes grounded, but this time electronically regulated.