So, I'm upgrading my alternator to the FD type, right? I managed to find one in good condition at a hobum parts store on North Ave here outside of Chicago--home of the honkytonk parts blackhole of all cars foreign and domestic--for seventy bucks. Thing is, they want me to trade in my FC one in lieu the core charge. I want to hold onto this FC alternator so I may forfeit the charge, and if anyone wants to brush up the FD swap on top of what's noted here (http://www.geocities.com/rx7_ragtop/alternator.html), please go right ahead. But here's the thing:

In removing the alternator, I found myself given some flack by the 14mm bolt ear on the engine block itself, once the 14 mm bolt and nut and 12mm opposite nut were removed: It stuck a little. So I wiggled it, and just as the alternator popped out, so did this little spacer that I hadn't noticed--it fits between the two ears of the alternator mount and the engine mount. The spacer cried, "Yeehaaheee, yee!" as it rolled merrily away from my flailing hand. I managed to get a grip on it, only to have it chide once more, "Weejee!" and cleverly tumble into the deepest of the crusty, clammy ***** of my tubing and wiring; never to be seen again by flashlight, third parties, or prodding fingers. I was hesitant to go into aggressive digging, as I didn't want to knock anything important loose of anything important. This is going to extend a two hour job into at least five hours, I can tell.

My question is, what was that spacer made out of? Rubber? Steel? Is it going to get hot when the car is running and melt all over something important, or go get jammed in something? I mean, it didn't fall *into* anything just *among* various tubes and wires. Gwah. Any reccomendations as to what to add to my stir fry I'll be making while you guys look at this?

 

Its steel, im sure it won't burn. And there is nothing it could mess with.

 

Glad to hear it--how does one obtain a second one? :P

 

lol dude... what i did was i took an extra large nut that was lying around... (you know... the kind you put on the end of a bolt? ) and used that as a spacer. It was just big enough to clear the bolt, and shimmed the space PERFECTLY. The spacer couldnt have possibly done a better job.

 

One question guys,

I am going to buy an N/A FC. Do I need to change the alternator if it is functioning properly? What is the benefit of upgrading to an FD unit?

 

It doesn't seem like the swap is too hard--the benefit is that the FD has 100 amps and the FC only has 70. In reality, it has less. It's really not hard at all... you have to crimp on some new terminals, and extend some others.