I've known guys to convert to the one wire GM alternator that is widely available in any amperage one could want, it wasn't hard.
Personally I've had excellent service out of non-***ty-rebuilt Bosch pieces, the bearings last through several sets of brushes, might put a
voltage regulator in once over the life of the rotating assembly, and you can still buy bearings for them if you look around.
I've never run anything beyond a regular radio with a small amp and H4 headlights with fogs, and the stock 55amp or whatever it is
with a correctly sized stock battery has been fine in Oklahoma to North Carolina climates. The blip is normal. I even like it, because
right after the glow plugs cycle there is a large drain from the alternator (don't underestimate how much of a drain it can be) on the motor
and it'll lower the idle RPM even further, which is unpleasant on a very cold diesel.
A serpentine conversion would be nice, I've seen it done on an ABA, but not a diesel. I assume the AAZ had that setup somewhere but I've
never seen it in any detail, the V belt setup is kinda meh on the old motors, but it works if you keep good belts on it and watch the tension.
Much like the input shaft bushing on the injection pump, you can and will wear out water pumps and alternators if you over-tighten the V belts.
Not to mention wear the belts out in no time. There used to be tension gauges for V belts back when they were more common, and smart manufacturers
ran more than one V belt at a time (see borrowed Volvo 240 image below), the power steering is a single and MIA, but note the double alternator belts.
They last for ages.
