VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 Alternator installation

Morning all,Can anyone advise on the pros and cons of replacing the generator with alternator? Am looking at halogen bulbs and the listing says "alternator only" also I recall some postings concerning this change where posters state it was the best $100.00 they ever spent....Is it as simple as unbolting the gen. and bolting in the alt.? I am trying to keep the ol coach as orig. as possible and still make it safe for todays roads.My goal is to drive this car on a daily basis around town during the 9 mo. "weather friendly" window here in NJ. I will not do anything that cannot be reversed to original though.Thanks in advance everyone!

I installed a 6 volt single wire internally regulated alternator on 3 of my cars. I won't go back to the generator.
Don't get me wrong, the generators worked well as they were fully restored and rebuilt, but the alternator works much better.

L.D. Becker Electric had the 6 volt alt. including the bolts and bushings that made the installation a breeze. He is usually at the Iola Car Show and he carries a lifetime warrantee.

I to installed an alternator on my 31. The rest of the car is as original. My generator worked quite well without problems. But I wanted my lights to be more reliable and fewer problems with my battery. I made my own bracket but for the cost of it, it is well worth purchasing. Installation was very easy and I can return to the generator in about 30 minutes. I am more than satified with the performance and It can easily be reversed.

Thanks to all for your help!Is the wiring also that simple.Maybe just taking em off and puttin em on ?? Thanks again,Jay

It comes with all the instructions you need for the complete installation.

You might want to consider some options in going down the alternator road....

I have one of L.D. Becker's alternators, and its fine, with a reasonable price, but, I think I got what I paid for.

On the other hand, I purchased two Nu-Rex alternators, 6 volt, but they are rated to 60 amps. If I were to install halogen bulbs, then a 60 ampere alt would be preferred. Now, I also purchased the alternator bracket from the Filling Station to mount the Nu-Rex units, and its a v. nice bracket to work with.

These two units were installed into the 1928 Chevy Roadsters, and work v. well.

Nu-Rex has a site at Hershey in October, perhaps other places as well, and his Hershey on-site price is considerably less than his online price, I think I paid 140 dollars for a 60 amp unit. Its also a one wire hookup, etc.

Maybe this coming Oct., I might buy another pair of alternators from Nu-Rex at Hershey, but for now, the generators on the 1932s are working pretty well and it can wait.

http://www.nurex.com/

Ciao,

Jay

Hello Alfaromeo,
Looking at the (nurex) one wire 60 amp alternator, I read that it is for positive ground vehicles. Would that present operational issues if connected to a negative ground vehicle? My knowledge of electrical charging systems is somewhat weak so I would like to know about compatibility and correct wire hookup to a negative ground vehicle.

Hi Harrys31Coach,

Yes, the website is correct, its a positive ground alt., for Ford Model A cars, but that's not a problem.

I asked Nu-Rex to wire one up *negative ground*, which he did without any additional charge. He even slapped a negative ground sticker on the side of the alternator, probably so that he shipped the correct alt to the correct customer.

Hope that helps,

Jay

Hello Alfaromeo,
Thank you. That's good to know negative ground is available. The negative ground sticker would also be good to show for servicing and resale.