2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.

alternator upgrade

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 12, 2007 | 06:09 PM
  #1  
dregg100's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (34)
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: AZ
alternator upgrade

i need a bigger alternator (like 120-140 amp) what kind would you guys recommend? i dont want an FD alt, because they are just a rip off. please only put positive input, i dont want to here about you telling me to search. thanks

-masin
Reply
Old May 12, 2007 | 06:50 PM
  #2  
clubber's Avatar
Senior Member
Tenured Member: 20 Years
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 453
Likes: 0
From: South Jordan UT
I sure like the FD alt's. I have one in my turbo car, they are a significant upgrade from the stock (s4). I don't have any experience with any other options out there.
Reply
Old May 12, 2007 | 06:59 PM
  #3  
InsomniacFC's Avatar
Will drive for parts
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,252
Likes: 0
From: Modesto, CA
There was a post a few months ago about using an alternator out of some GM junkyard find that worked pretty good.

Try searching for "alternator upgrade" or "alternator mod" etc....
Reply
Old May 12, 2007 | 07:12 PM
  #4  
Soma's Avatar
I knw wht u did last sumr
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 356
Likes: 0
From: AZ
You can actually bump up the amperage substaintually on your stock alt by having it rewound...
Reply
Old May 12, 2007 | 07:15 PM
  #5  
jgrts20's Avatar
Who are you?
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,235
Likes: 0
From: CenCal
Isnt the FD alternator a 90 amp? He said he wanted to get a 120 or so amp. The only thing I can think of is try to fit a different car alternator in(means youll have to do you own wiring for it). Better make sure you can use one that size in the FC system!! That my 2 cents

Chris

Last edited by jgrts20; May 12, 2007 at 07:28 PM.
Reply
Old May 12, 2007 | 07:18 PM
  #6  
HeyITZthatFC's Avatar
fc3s
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
From: bay area
Originally Posted by jgrts20
Isnt the FD alternator a 90 amp? He said he want to get a 120 or so amp one. The only thing I can think of is try to fit a different car alternator in(means youll have to do you own wiring for it). Better make sure you can use one that size in the FC system!! That my 2 cents

Chris
when should you upgrade your alternator?
Reply
Old May 12, 2007 | 07:31 PM
  #7  
jgrts20's Avatar
Who are you?
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,235
Likes: 0
From: CenCal
I run a OEM 70 amp alt. in my FC and I have a 500 watt system in it. My lights dont even flicker/dim when running the system. Why do you want a 120/140 amp alt. for anyways?
Reply
Old May 12, 2007 | 08:57 PM
  #8  
Sideways7's Avatar
Lives on the Forum
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,598
Likes: 10
From: Temple, Texas (Central)
The FD alt is 100 amps. And why exactly are they a rip-off? If its the price, what do you expect for a new alt? They aren't really any more expensive than an FC one.
Reply
Old May 12, 2007 | 10:47 PM
  #9  
dregg100's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (34)
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: AZ
Originally Posted by jgrts20
I run a OEM 70 amp alt. in my FC and I have a 500 watt system in it. My lights dont even flicker/dim when running the system. Why do you want a 120/140 amp alt. for anyways?
its a large single turbo car with ignition boxes, msd coils, e fan, and a big fuel pump. i dont want to get to the dyno and be straining my alt. you have the stock 70 working really really hard with that "system". your lights dont dim at all...yet.

when i say rip off i mean i cant really seem to find one for under like $150-200.

what i would really like to do is just get an S5 alt. and have it re-wound for higher output, but i cant seem to find a place to do it.

clubber, what all do you have on your turbo car, as far as accesories.

i have an S5 alt on my DD and it has a 750 watt stereo (with capacitor) and it seems to do fine, but i just don think that it would be enough.
Reply
Old May 13, 2007 | 05:46 AM
  #10  
NZConvertible's Avatar
I'm a boost creep...
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 15,608
Likes: 8
From: Auckland, New Zealand
Originally Posted by dregg100
i dont want an FD alt, because they are just a rip off.
I bought an FD alternator for NZ$70 (~US$50) and spent NZ$40 (~US$30) replacing the bearings. Hardly a rip-off.

please only put positive input, i dont want to here about you telling me to search.
Since alternators have been discussed to death on this forum, why not search? Too lazy?
Reply
Old May 13, 2007 | 07:48 AM
  #11  
Gringo Grande's Avatar
1.5 Goodfella's Tall
Tenured Member 10 Years
iTrader: (97)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,216
Likes: 2
From: Tampa, FL
What he said^^^^

I bought an FD Alt for $90 US...didn't realize they were that hard to find.

GG
Reply
Old May 13, 2007 | 08:10 AM
  #12  
dregg100's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (34)
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: AZ
damn, guess i havent been looking hard enough. thanks guys.
Reply
Old May 13, 2007 | 08:15 AM
  #13  
jgrts20's Avatar
Who are you?
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,235
Likes: 0
From: CenCal
Originally Posted by dregg100
you have the stock 70 working really really hard with that "system". your lights dont dim at all...yet.
I dont know about that but Ive had the system in my car since 2001 and Im running a cap. for the system. STILL NO PROBLEMS ^6 ^ YEARS LATER!! But with all that stuff your running I can see why you want a bigger alt.
Reply
Old May 13, 2007 | 08:22 AM
  #14  
AllMotorRotor's Avatar
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
From: Home
I bought my FD alt for a lil over $230 so I could get the lifetime warrenty. I actually need to swap it out for free soon .
Reply
Old May 13, 2007 | 09:01 AM
  #15  
Sideways7's Avatar
Lives on the Forum
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,598
Likes: 10
From: Temple, Texas (Central)
I got my FD alt for 65 bucks.
Reply
Old May 13, 2007 | 09:46 AM
  #16  
Aaron Cake's Avatar
Engine, Not Motor
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 29,798
Likes: 128
From: London, Ontario, Canada
There are loads of one wire aftermarket alternators available. Most are for Chevy's and Fords, but based on the look of them they can easily be adapted to the FC by making a bracket and swapping on the appropriate pulley.
Reply
Old May 13, 2007 | 05:35 PM
  #17  
fc3s91's Avatar
R.I.P Mark( Icemark )
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (23)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,912
Likes: 1
From: socal
http://www.mechman.com/alt.htm
I just go one. Rotorlutions dad has been builting them for years.
Thanks Robert
Reply
Old May 13, 2007 | 05:47 PM
  #18  
fidelity101's Avatar
Rallye RX7
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,441
Likes: 110
From: MI/CHI
if your worried about your system making lights flicker and etc, get a capacitor or an optima yellow/red top along with a FD alternator (just for overkill sakes).
Reply
Old May 13, 2007 | 08:29 PM
  #19  
dregg100's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (34)
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: AZ
im not worried about the lights flickering the car doesnt have a stereo, im worried about voltage drops at high RPMs under 20 psi.
Reply
Old May 13, 2007 | 08:37 PM
  #20  
Junior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: With YZFs Sister
Originally Posted by jgrts20
Why do you want a 120/140 amp alt. for anyways?


These require a lot of power.
Reply
Old May 15, 2007 | 01:34 AM
  #21  
clubber's Avatar
Senior Member
Tenured Member: 20 Years
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 453
Likes: 0
From: South Jordan UT
clubber, what all do you have on your turbo car, as far as accesories.


I've got a pioneer double din stereo and subwoofer (10") and high beams with 100Watt bulbs. Also a microtech and the bosch high voltage coils. I think that 's quite a bit more current than stock but nothing like a killer stereo setup with multiple power amps. I do have an Optima battery in the passenger luggage compartment which might add to the possibility of charging problems. The FD alternator has worked fine for me And I don't notice lights dimming at idle even at night with everything running.
Reply
Old May 15, 2007 | 09:22 AM
  #22  
dregg100's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (34)
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: AZ
man that looks really dumb. (no offense intended)

one last question, does the FD alternator require a special pully? will the FC pully just bolt on or do i need a spacer etc.?
Reply
Old May 15, 2007 | 09:44 AM
  #23  
SuphaG's Avatar
Full Member
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 176
Likes: 3
From: Jacksonville, FL
You need a different pulley. Got mine from forum member banzaitoyota.
Reply
Old May 15, 2007 | 09:45 AM
  #24  
dregg100's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (34)
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: AZ
oh jon, didnt even think about that. thanks guys
Reply
Old May 15, 2007 | 11:04 AM
  #25  
RussTII's Avatar
Rotary Enthusiast
Tenured Member 15 Years
Veteran: Air Force
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 786
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Originally Posted by dregg100
its a large single turbo car with ignition boxes, msd coils, e fan, and a big fuel pump. i dont want to get to the dyno and be straining my alt. you have the stock 70 working really really hard with that "system". your lights dont dim at all...yet.
I have all the same minus the e-fan. According to my PFC I have 15v @ idle with the running lights on w/ my FD alternator. I dont think you should rule out the FD alternator just yet.
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:58 PM.