Alternator upgrade for pre '88 3.8L?

Topic: Alternator upgrade for pre '88 3.8L? (Read 16604 times) previous topic - next topic

Alternator upgrade for pre '88 3.8L?

February 22, 2005, 02:06:47 PM

I'm interested in upgrading my alternator but haven't found many products. The pre '88 3.8s have the old school mounting brackets that don't work with standard 3G cases.

Above is a 95A model from PA-Performance. Link. Anyone else have any ideas?

Re: Alternator upgrade for pre '88 3.8L?

Reply #1 – February 23, 2005, 04:06:40 PM

there is a ford taurus version that bolts on,,,,,

Tom? help me out here cause i forgot which years you called out...

Re: Alternator upgrade for pre '88 3.8L?

Reply #2 – February 23, 2005, 08:17:41 PM

This might help
http://store.summitracing.com/default.asp?target=partdetail.asp&part=PWM%2D8%2D57140&SearchType=Engine&N=4294908331+4294889096+4294840126&Nao=20&autoview=sku
It says it's a 2g style case alternator. Which, if i remember correctly, is the stock style for our cars.

Re: Alternator upgrade for pre '88 3.8L?

Reply #3 – February 23, 2005, 11:00:33 PM

You can get a 3G with offset tabs, I forget which vehicles it came from, though...

Re: Alternator upgrade for pre '88 3.8L?

Reply #4 – February 24, 2005, 05:55:36 PM

it works on the 88. but you may need to gring on the case to get it to work. and you need to do some work to the bottom of the alt bracket to make it sit corectly. i know i did it if i knew it was that hard i wouldnt have done it with a drill i would have bought a dremal and had it way beter. i i did get iot to work

Re: Alternator upgrade for pre '88 3.8L?

Reply #5 – February 24, 2005, 06:48:05 PM

Quote from: CougarCoupe88

it works on the 88.

What works on the '88? I believe the '88 3.8 has mounting points 180 degrees apart. The pre '88 alternators have a mounting point at 12 o'clock and ~5 o'clock.

[Slight hijack] I'm doing this so I can put a Mark VIII fan in. No doubt the 60/65 amp alternator I have now can't handle it, even with a DC Control unit.

Re: Alternator upgrade for pre '88 3.8L?

Reply #6 – February 25, 2005, 01:08:18 AM

oh my bad

Re: Alternator upgrade for pre '88 3.8L?

Reply #7 – March 01, 2005, 06:21:48 PM

I did some looking around and compiled a list of alternators with the offset mounting. Ford part GL-469 is probably my best bet. It is a 95A. It came on:

89-90 Taurus/Sable w/2.5L
91 Tempo/Topaz w/2.3L
91-93 Thunderbird/Cougar w/5.0L

There are also some 95A/130A alternators that can be found on E/F series trucks. The complete list is here

Re: Alternator upgrade for pre '88 3.8L?

Reply #8 – March 18, 2005, 06:48:54 PM

What changes would have to be made to run one of those 130A alternators out of an E/F? I think the alt on my '86 is pin' out on me. This might be my next project, if I ever get that 351 sold.

Re: Alternator upgrade for pre '88 3.8L?

Reply #9 – March 18, 2005, 07:41:14 PM

Quote from: Bird351

What changes would have to be made to run one of those 130A alternators out of an E/F? I think the alt on my '86 is pin' out on me.

Is your '86 externally (1G) or internally (2G) regulated? I think it could be either in '86. If it is a 1G model, the easiest way is to use a PA-Performance kit. They also sell kits to swap over 2G systems. The 2G/3G conversion has been covered on this board a good bit.

Re: Alternator upgrade for pre '88 3.8L?

Reply #10 – March 18, 2005, 07:57:16 PM

I don't know, to be honest. I saw a little rusty box somewhat similar to that PA Performance item down below the air inlet.

Re: Alternator upgrade for pre '88 3.8L?

Reply #11 – March 18, 2005, 08:11:14 PM

That rusty box is the regulator.

Re: Alternator upgrade for pre '88 3.8L?

Reply #12 – March 18, 2005, 08:42:10 PM

Well poop.

OK, that PA Performance item says something about retaining use of stock ammeter (which I don't have anyway) and warning light. What if I don't really care if I lose both of those? Can it be done differently to avoid needing to buy that adapter?

I have a voltmeter in that car, which I'll probably run a direct wire to from the battery (as was discussed many many moons ago) or whatever when I do this.. so I get a more accurate reading. (right now the voltmeter reads right around 1-1.1v lower than whatever my digital tester shows) Shouldn't that be sufficient to monitor the system?

Re: Alternator upgrade for pre '88 3.8L?

Reply #13 – March 18, 2005, 09:27:20 PM

The 3G swap into a non-internally regulated car should be very simple, and no swap-kit is required. You just don't use the external regulator. The 3G requires only a constant 12V power source (on the yellow/white wire in the regulator harness, which may be looped directly to the alternator's output stud), a sense wire (which goes from the regulator plug to the small single terminal on the alternator, a white/black stripe wire) and an ignition (switched) wire on the light green/red wire at the regulator plug. This wire can be taken directly from the "I" wire on your existing regulator and will enable the factory idiot light to work as well. Then you run a 4-gauge power wire from the alternator's output stud to the battery. You can also connect your factory black/orange stripe output wires to this stud as I did, but it's not necessary if you have that 4-gauge wire.

Re: Alternator upgrade for pre '88 3.8L?

Reply #14 – March 18, 2005, 09:49:07 PM

Here, I did up a quick diagram. Since you have a 1G you'll need to buy a regulator plug (about $2 at an auto parts store).