Alternator Time

[GlenCoombe]

Well the squeal isn't the belt after all...darn. Seems it is time to r/r the alternator.

I've got a 12/248 that I'm not sure I want to rebuild.

I can't get a good photo of it to show my concern but the back of the alternator is touching the valve cover.

Also as I've not been wild about the trouble adjusting and keeping belt tension I'm going to buy one of the very nice $100 CNC brackets so that it can be tensioned by a threaded rod rather than a slide lock arrangement.

So any ideas? My old Auto Electric dealer in town has evaporated so I'm up against finding a new source for the alternator too.

All this and I'm due out on a road trip Tuesday.... help!

[Jim Foster]

Find a supplier of Street Rod equipment in your area. They will have a several from which to choose. If you don't have such a place, check Speedway Motors - Street Rod Parts, Race Parts, Ford Flathead Parts, Sprint and Midget Racing Parts, Pedal Car Parts . They have everything.

[DaveFL]

Napa was my choice when I needed a gm replacement alternator for the boat, Napa was able to match specs with a rebuilt one, but it took a second one to work. Rebuilt alt and starters don't have the quality, but are cheap, so have them test it before you leave the store.

[kmpro]

DaveFL is right. Be sure and have the store check the alternator BEFORE leaving the store. Make sure electrical hook-up is the same as yours before turning your old one in for exchange, too. Make sure output amperage is correct as rebuilders sometimes meet everything but output amperage.

[GlenCoombe]

As luck would have it the alternator issue was related to adjustment and v-belt wear. I don't need an alternator ....yet.

My mechanic and I debated the CNC bracket and we also talked about changing out all the V-belts in favor of a serpentine pulley / belt setup.

Have any of you done this change out? The truth of seeing v-belts along the highway vs. serpentine rings true but is it worth the bucks to do this?

The obvious needs to be stated here... lots of later 454's came with serpentine setups and the wrecker yards are the best source of parts... is this a route I should consider?

Experience is what I'm lookin' for here.

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by GlenCoombe

As luck would have it the alternator issue was related to adjustment and v-belt wear. I don't need an alternator ....yet.

My mechanic and I debated the CNC bracket and we also talked about changing out all the V-belts in favor of a serpentine pulley / belt setup.

Have any of you done this change out? The truth of seeing v-belts along the highway vs. serpentine rings true but is it worth the bucks to do this?

The obvious needs to be stated here... lots of later 454's came with serpentine setups and the wrecker yards are the best source of parts... is this a route I should consider?

Experience is what I'm lookin' for here.

Our Burb with the 454 has the multi-V belt/serpentine alternator belt setup. I can take some photos of it if you'd like. It'll be tomorrow, though, obviously. It's kind of dark out right now...

[Mike Leary]

Terry, what's with the sig?

[GlenCoombe]

Terry, thanks for the offer but it's not necessarily about the photos but a retrofit.

I'm wanting to here from anyone who has gone from multi belts to one singular serpentine.

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by Mike Leary

Terry, what's with the sig?

I had to quit working for Inland Andy back in June '09. It's a long story I have been asked not to discuss on the forums.

Originally Posted by GlenCoombe

Terry, thanks for the offer but it's not necessarily about the photos but a retrofit.

I'm wanting to here from anyone who has gone from multi belts to one singular serpentine.

Okay, that's what I thought, but wanted to offer anyway.

[Smartstream]

I may be old school but your V-belts have worked for 26 years. They are not perfect but they get the job done. Serpentine belts work also. My question is how many V-belts can you buy for the cost of change over to serpentine.

If adjustment was the issue why not refurb the adjustment set up. Fresh grade 8 bolts and washers are a big improvement over the factoty grade 5 stuff. I made the change on my Isuzu diesel and havn't touched the adjusment since. Again just a thought.

Cheers, Dan

[DaveFL]

If there a lot of black dust around the pulleys and alternator, normal wear on the belts or a lot on one side, before installing new one make sure the pulleys are still in alignment.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, if you have a super high amp, after market alternator, one V-belt might slip. You could go with a dual belt alternator pully system. Or change to surpentine system. Your belt should work fine if you are running a stock alternator. Also a larger diameter alternator pulley would give more gripping surface, but would also slow down the alternator's RPM.

[GlenCoombe]

I echoed the remarks to the mechanic when he brought it up. Airstream One is a working coach not a show boat. I do like the threaded adjustment of the CNC bracket setup though as it is very difficult to get leverage on the alternator.

As it is a 245 amp it does take a bit to spin it and a dual belt setup might be a good idea going forward.

For now all is working and I'm back on the road early tomorrow for a 500 mile run around NC.

Just in time for the highest gas prices in months too.....

[lefounta]

i also am in need of an alternator. Nappa and the rest of the chain stores in my area all show the same 105 amp alt. With a 350SE, 454, this simply is'nt enough amperage to run the coch, little alone night running. any further comments will be appreciated. I am considering engineering a larger diamater 7" "truck" alt to get into the 140amp range. thoughts?

[richinny]

a local alternator rebuilder might have what you need or rebuild your old one.

[guy99]

The following post explains what I did about this problem:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f159...tml#post228122

The site referenced in that post has lots of alternators with varying capacities and prices. Many with lifetime warranty.