Project84

Not that this is an earth shattering modification, but I picked up an FD alternator from a friend who had it mounted on his S5 RX-7. The B terminal was touching the upper intake. The plastic shielding was old and brittle, exposing the metal part of the terminal. I went to install this Alternator on my S4, and l noticed that the B terminals on the S4 and FD alternators are mounted with 10mm nuts. The S4 had a plastic cap over the nut which can be easily pryed out with a screw driver. (See picture 1)

I wanted to try to swap the low profile FD terminal for the low profile S4 terminal. (See picture 2)

After removing the B terminals, I noticed that the S4 terminal had a notch on the back (picture 3) that fit into a groove on the S4 alternator. (picture 4)

I took my dremel tool to the notch and eliminated it. (Picture 5)

CONTINUED BELOW.......

Project84

Now it can be installed against the smooth surface of the FD alternator. (picture 6)

With S4 B terminal installed, and the FD alternator installed on the engine, the B terminal makes contact with the engine hoist mount, preventing the alternator from being rotated down like you would move it as when you were going to change the belt. (picture 7)

Simply take a 12mm wrench and loosen the bolt holding the engine hoist mount. Rotate the mount away from the alternator. Retighten the bolt. Notice now that the alternator can travel up and down to apply and relieve tension to the belt. (picture 8)

Like I said, this isn't a ground breaking discovery, but if you have problems with the FD alternator fitting your engine, you might want to try this.

ViperDude152

I put a s5 intake manifold on my s4 block and install the FD alt a few months ago after the intake man swap. the B terminal does come VERY close to the intake evan on the s5 mans. all i really did was bend the adjustment bracket (long black one) forward to get teh ALT away from the manifold. works like a charm
I was also thinknig of switch the B terminals but for some reason i didnt. maybe i saw something and found out it wasnt going to work... i forget

vrooom305

alright now I'm curious. I just installed an FD alt on my S4 and everytime I start it the volts meter read 12v. But when I rev my car to 2000rpm it goes to ~14v and I assume that's when it starts charging. Are you guys experiencing the samething?

Project84

I haven't started the car yet because I'm waiting on the right size pulley for the FD alternator. The one that was on it wasn't worth crap. The grooves for the pulley weren't the same size or depth and it chewed up belts.

Kenteth

Sounds about what I had with the s6 alternator on my s5

Project84

Have you guys seen this? I got it off this forum.

Kenteth

Was posted in silverotors thread last week. intersetingly enough, it specs the alternator to have 12.9 reading at the gauge...,