if i have an 86-88 alternator on my bp12a would it make that much of a difference losing 10 amps on my alternator because the second gen didn't have a built in regulator and the 84 wiring harness is set up for an alternator with a built in regulator

so would i be messing up by putting on an 84 alternator since im loosing 10 amps

 

both alternators are internally regulated, and they are both wired the same too.

 

well the 86-88 must be messed up because whenever you get the car runnin it won't cut off without unplugging the alternator

 

I think you must have something wired up wrong. Try the alternator from the 84 and see if the problem stays. The S4 alternator is just higher amps, that's all. Either should work fine. Still looking for some pics of your "new" car.

 

The alternator is grounded where it attaches to the engine (at the pivot bolt). Make sure there is not paint covering the interface between the alternator and the engine. FC and FB alternators need to be wired slightly different. This is a good page.
http://www.rx7.org/public/altxref.html

 

well i went to take the 84 alternator to get it checked again.
apparently the guy at advanced tried pullin a fast one on me and my dad

took it to o'rileys and they let me watch them test it cause haha the employees seemed bored so we made a game guessin if it was good or not and tested it and sure enough advance has some *** holes

ITS GOOD =]
passed as if it was brand new =]

so i have a good alternator that is oem and original =]

 

Cool beans. Actually the 80-88 alternators are a direct swap. The 79s were the only year that used an external regulator. The S5 alternators have a different plug, but still wire up the same. I have been using a 80 amp S5 alternator on my TII-FB for a couple of years now. So when you going to post a couple of pics?

 

pics are up on the progress thread well the flickr link is up
couldn't get them off my computer quick enough so thats what i did

but yea well found out the 84 alternator was the one that worked best
seeing how advanced just lied to me and told me it was bad i took it to orriely and they tested it and it was good as new

so we tried it and well
white plug didn't work for cutting it off but the blue did