New Alternator

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no1newb

no1newb

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OK, so after adding a radio and a MSD ignition, i turn on the blower motor and the voltage jumps down to around 13 or 14 when at idle, im assuming i need a better alternator. My question is, how powerful of an alternator should i get, i plan on eventually getting an electric fan for the radiator also, and i don't know how powerful of an alternator i have now, but it looks like something that would be in the typical stock of an auto zone or something.

So, How powerful of an alternator do i need and what should i get? dont want to have to worry about having too many electric things in my car either.
 
110 amp or better. I have a 200 amp for mine which is total overkill but that's how I work.
 
13/14 volts at idle is pretty good really. What is the off idle voltage? If you increase the alternators output with a "bigger" alt you will run into the problem of the wire harness in the car is not up to the bigger current loads. If you must upgrade you must upgrade the wires as well
 
slant6/4speed said:
13/14 volts at idle is pretty good really. What is the off idle voltage? If you increase the alternators output with a "bigger" alt you will run into the problem of the wire harness in the car is not up to the bigger current loads. If you must upgrade you must upgrade the wires as well
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it is usually charging at 15v or even 16v, and i noticed the problem when i was driving my car last fall and it died on me 5 min after i turn the blower motor on. and that sucks about the wiring because my wiring is already a mess.


slantsixdan said:
See here
Click to expand...
Thanks for the information
 
oh, and the alternator and voltage regulator are both from a 73 i believe, as when i got the car he told me the engine was from a 73 and it is a 2 wire regulator
 
15/16 volts is a bit high. 14.5 or so is what you want. How are your grounds? Battery to engine block/engine block to body?
 
I'd watch out you don't have to much amperage for the wiring, ampmeter and the firewall connections.
 
slant6/4speed said:
15/16 volts is a bit high. 14.5 or so is what you want. How are your grounds? Battery to engine block/engine block to body?
Click to expand...

well, every time i look i keep meening to check better, but i dont remember seeing any block to body grounds. would this cause many eletrical problems, or wierdness?
 
Off the main battery ground to block cable there is a smaller black cable that is molded into the main cable near the battery. That is your body ground. It should go to the inner fender or radiator support. Engine is mounted on rubber and that is a lousy ground for the body. Were did you mount the voltage regulator?
 
My negative battery cable only has the one to the block. there arent any smaller wires like my positive that goes to my starter relay. and i dont know were its mounted, the guy before me put it in, but it only comes on when the cars on, so id assume he mounted it just to the aux wire, but i think it might be grounded tot the block
 
green1 said:
Check the blower, and wiring. It seems that all is good until you turn it on?
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well, my fan isnt mounted the stock way with the controller with resistors as it was broken, but i think i mounted it from the starter relay to the fender with a switch. i just assumed it was drawing a lot of power.
 
You can put on your own body ground . Make a cable that you can attach one end to the clamp bolt for the negative term on the battery and the other end to a point/screw on the fire wall. Or the bolt that holds the voltage regulator on. go to here ( http://www.mymopar.com/index.php?pid=24) find what your wiring should be. And check out the 73 Dart wiring to see how the regulator and ballast resistor are wired.
 
......SO on the 69 down single field can u or can u not just run the mopar performance constant current voltage regulator part# P 3690732 2 keep ur charging at idle decent.................thanks.......kim......
 
oldkimmer said:
......SO on the 69 down single field can u or can u not just run the mopar performance constant current voltage regulator part# P 3690732 2 keep ur charging at idle decent.................thanks.......kim......
Click to expand...
Quick answer is -YES. It is the one to use if you are running the stock one field wire alt (69 and earlier) and you want to run electronic ignition.
 
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