Generator to alternator?

[Soft Taco 84]

I was wondering if there were any advantages in converting the generator to an alternator. Is this something commonly done with older vehicles? Thanks!

[pbrown]

Yes there is. The alternator is higher amperage and will power more accessories. It will charge you battery faster. It will also provide a better charge at engine idle speeds than the generator. It's all around a better solution unless you're building a 100pt stock show car.

[Luva65wagon]

I'm a fan of the swap, but for me it has always been a necessity. You have a few options depending on cost and the engine you have - as to mounting one. You can go with a Ford with external or one-wire internal regulator. One wire versions will be the most expensive. Using a stock 35-45 amp stock alternator with external regulator is pretty simple (assuming easy mounting) and is well documented here (somewhere) and online. Just Google "Ford generator to alternator swap" to find simple wiring diagrams.

The mount on a 170 is for a generator. They added another screw boss for mounting an alternator bracket on later sixes. Falconparts.com sells a bracket you can use as-is (no swapping out to a newer timing cover to gain that screw boss), though it is not all that good if going to the larger 1-wire alternator.

Hope this helps.

[ew1usnr]

Here is another of my alternate suggestions: You do not need to change things that do not need to be changed.

Yes, an alternator is a better choice if you have a lot of new accessories like an electric cooling fan and a sonic boom high-watt stereo.

A generator works fine in a stock Falcon. Keeping the stock generator will let you be able to watch the "GEN" light on your instrument panel flicker when you are idling at a red light. A pair of new generator brushes cost maybe $3.99 and can be bought at O'Reilly's auto parts.

Trivia: Generators make DC current. Alternators make make AC current and need a rectifier circuit to convert the AC to DC. Rectifier circuits could not be be inexpensively made until solid state electronics began to be mass manufactured. That did not happen until the first years if the 1960s.

The first American car to come with an alternator as standard equipment was the 1960 Chrysler Valiant. It became the Plymouth Valiant in 1961. :)

[Luva65wagon]

Dennis... no truer words. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.