Aleternator Upgrade

[Justin]

I seem to remember peopld installing alternators from small block chevy's on their VW's, does anyone have any links or pictures of these setups?

I did a search but was unsuccessful,

Thanks
jkeiffer

[madrogers]

I have been thinking of this convertion also but did not want to say it outloud. I know that the GM alt from apx mid 1970 to 1980's all have a the built in voltage reg and it can easy be made to a one wire power out put. most all farmers use this to convert the generator tractors to a simply alt. system. these alt range from 33 amps to 80plus amps and are dirt cheap new or used.
Generaly speaking alt mount distance  are a std mount system and sould easly be put onto anything.
I would go to a scrap yard and get one for 5 bucks and experiment on mounting it and go from there.
you could also googel gm alt convertion and get something i'am sure.
Mark

[clbanman]

General VW electrical information:http://www.autohausaz.com/vw-auto-parts/vw-electrical-systems.html
Information related to GM alternators:http://www.rowand.net/Shop/Tech/AlternatorConversions.htm

[Vincent Waldon]

One thing to remember is that our diesels rely on the W terminal from the alternator to drive the tachometer and oil pressure warning system.

Not a big deal to add to a GM alternator once you pull it apart, but something to consider.

[madrogers]

for the "w" term.could you just not tap into one of the phazes of the alt and run a wire out or get fancy and add a term. post to connet to it. though the houseing.

[lord_verminaard]

FYI any automotive electrical shop can rebuild a Bosch alt. to output however many amps you want to pay for.  I had a local shop rebuild a 60 Amp to a 90, it was only $110 out the door.  And everything was bead blasted and painted, including the pulley.  Delco alternators are pretty much crap, in my experience.  Some work forever others fail right away.  I think I went through about 6 on my Chevy Beretta before I finally upgraded to an Iceberg.  (a $180 upgrade!!!)

Brendan

[madrogers]

I agree that money can buy you anything but love, but  in the land of being cheap and thifty we try to experiment and try the back door way, that in what the "mother of invention" is all about, for some it is easy to drop coin but what fun is that, and what have you realy leared.
Mark.

[Vincent Waldon]

for the "w" term.could you just not tap into one of the phazes of the alt and run a wire out or get fancy and add a term. post to connet to it. though the houseing.

That's what I mean by "not a big deal to add". :wink:

Just alerting people to the fact that there are electrical considerations as well as mechanical.... none of which are insurmountable.

[lord_verminaard]

I agree that money can buy you anything but love, but  in the land of being cheap and thifty we try to experiment and try the back door way, that in what the "mother of invention" is all about, for some it is easy to drop coin but what fun is that, and what have you realy leared.
Mark.

Well, I've learned in the past that Delco Alternators are junk and I had to spend almost $200 on one just to keep it reliable.

I think the highest output Delco 1-wire alternator I've seen that came factory stock is 100 amp, you aren't buying even a reman one for less than $70.  I'd much rather apply that toward a rebuild of a Bosch unit that works without any foolery and fabrication of mounting the thing.  Basically, why put forth a lot of extra effort to make something inferior work for almost the same amount of money??

Brendan

[theman53]

Never put one in a vw but I love every GM alternator I have ever had. I am sure there are some bad out there but the ones I have had are all the ones in the years mentioned above except my 94 truck. I have owned the truck 11 years and have only replaced 1 alt. and that was after I was driving and lightning hit the lane beside me. I had to replace alot of electrical stuff as the truck shut down....not to mention cleaning my shorts :lol:

[madrogers]

Thanks THEMAN53, I was hopeing someone would back me you with a commet like that, I too have had great luck with them, they are great for repalceing what you cannot get or do not what to spend the $ on replaceing, I have rebuit them useing the 24 volt regulators and had them installed on a buddies loader with a 24 volt system, worked great.
by the way happy new year
Mark.

[jtanguay]

i heard of a kid putting a 300 amp alt (for a stereo system) in his 1.6 n/a... couldn't figure out why it kept stalling  :lol:

even a 1.9 would be chugging with that thing!!   :lol: of course i'm not expecting anyone to do this, but just thought i'd share a funny story!

[macka]

One thing to remember is that our diesels rely on the W terminal from the alternator to drive the tachometer and oil pressure warning system.

Not a big deal to add to a GM alternator once you pull it apart, but something to consider.

Hmmmm now I have to search for this "conversion" as I have a 120 amp alternator sitting here from my jeep that bit the bullet.

[rallydiesel]

I could have sworn somebody on here had a source for custom rebuilt 140 amp vw alts. It was a couple years ago though.

[Rabbit on Roids]

so, where do i put a Wterm on a GM alt? the only reason im not running GM alts on all my cars is the W term not being there. wouldnt be so much of a problem with my rabbit, because it had lights to power and thats it, but my audi has a really power hungry stereo in it. i already shredded one alt belt. but yea, anyone willing to shed some light on w-terminalizing a GM alt, i would greatly appreciate it.