One-wire Alternator questions

[Vin Man]

I'm ready to switch over to the one-wire alternator from classicinlines. Mike has these (I suspect in stock), so I plan on picking one up soon. A couple questions:

1- Any concerns from anyone regarding using the GM part in the Ford?
2-I'm using aftermarket air so I have a double belt pulley on my current alternator - anyone have any issues swapping out the pulley?

Anything else I should be aware of?

 

[early ford fan]

i have a gm three wire alt on mine.it works great.i used a three wire so the alt[gen] light would work.

 

[fmartin_gila]

I also used the 3 wire to allow retention of the Idiot light and use of a Voltmeter. Another reason was it was given to me free.

Fred

 

[fordconvert]

I have had one wires on tractors and boats. For some reason they seem to be more flaky than the 3 wires. Not sure why or if its just my luck. Im getting ready to de Lucas one of my tractors. There is a kit for a 1 wire but I think I am going to go 3 wire just because I need to do some rewire anyway. Im not sure what the choices are in 1 wires but the most common series in a GM is the 10. The 10 has the typical saw tooth fan and was used in the 70;s. The 12 looks about the same but has a more fancy fan that is flat on the front, it was used in the 80's. I have found on applications with high underhood temps and higher loads that these last much longer. The cases are almost identical. The rear mount is in a different spot but most people dont use it anyway. Seems like I needed some washers on one application but dont remember any serious mods in any I have done.

Since I almost lost a fresh rebuilt engine recently due to a bad oil pump I am a big fan of working idiot lights. You dont need to respond as quickly to a power problem but still there are times you are busy watching traffic and dont notice a gauge drifting out of the normal range. I still run gauges but if the car had lights I have been making sure they still work also.

Im sure whatever Mike sells is quality built stuff and unless you are planning some crazy lights or stereo it will work fine.

 

[Vin Man]

I"m not planning anything crazy. I have the aftermarket a/c and a Kenwood am/fm cassette player. I want to go to 100amp to eliminate a potential problem I've been having with power draw.

The reason I want the one wire is I suspect I may also be having a problem with my voltage regulator. After I installed my new dash board gauges, the fuel gauge is very sensitive to how much power is being generated (depending on rpms). Since the one wire has the built in regulator, I thought I could eliminate 2 birds with one stone.

 

[fordconvert]

3 wire GM's also have an internal regulator. Going to 100 amps is going to require some thought into beefing up some of the rest of the cars wiring. I dont think there was anything but the main battery cables that could take 100 amps in a 60's car. Be sure you have the proper sized fuses / breakers / fusible links in place.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

I installed a one wire that I got from napa, 94 amps IIRC on my 66 bronco with a 170. I did loose use of the amp meter in the instrument cluster since it runs from the voltage regulater. I used an 8 guage wire from the alternator to the battery side of the selenoid.

I also have a 170 amp alternator on my 1974 bronco with a 302. Never had an issue with the wiring on that truck from the added amperage. I did eventually install a new wiring harness from centech in that Bronco not because of the alternator but because of the hack jobs from mutiple owners for the previous 30 years. No issues with that harness either