Alternator

[Dutch Paul]

Can anybody suggest a good alternator for sbc 350?
1 wire or 3 wire connections?
Amperage output?

Thanks

[mylesdw]

I haven't owned one but people seem to have all sorts of problems with the single wire type. For the sake of one extra wire I would keep it simple and use the three wire type. Size of alternator depends on the number of electrical accessories you fit and how many will run simultaneously. My sbc with electric fuel pump (not injected) dual fans and usual compliment of lights has the Lucas 55 amp alternator. This is more than enough, a smaller one would be fine.

[jamesandlouisa]

hi could someone please clarify where the 3rd wire goes, as i only have 2 cpnnected so far but have no idea where the 3rd one goes,, i have poles left marked earth and field.. (do i need to earth this? surely it being bolted the the engine will earth the thing?)

cheers

james

[Dutch Paul]

Originally Posted by mylesdw

I haven't owned one but people seem to have all sorts of problems with the single wire type. For the sake of one extra wire I would keep it simple and use the three wire type. Size of alternator depends on the number of electrical accessories you fit and how many will run simultaneously. My sbc with electric fuel pump (not injected) dual fans and usual compliment of lights has the Lucas 55 amp alternator. This is more than enough, a smaller one would be fine.

Thanks for that -looks like I need 55amp 3 wire :thumb:

[scooter8]

Hi there,

Been looking for a small alternator for my own cobra(legendary), by chance reading another car tuning mag(practical performance car) an artical I read in the mag said that a Nissan Micra alternator was small with a 60amp output. Phoned local auto spark they informad me it is the `96 model that is the 60amp.
The only thing not to do is inform anyone you`ve got Micra parts on your COB.

Scoot

[neil still building it]

hi scoot
did you get a price on this 'other' alternator?
neil

[scooter8]

Hello there Neil sbi

Think it was about £75 recon, apparently they had one in stock. Got there number some where if you want it.
Don`t know anything else about it, how many wires etc.

Scoot

[mylesdw]

Originally Posted by jamesandlouisa

hi could someone please clarify where the 3rd wire goes, as i only have 2 cpnnected so far but have no idea where the 3rd one goes,, i have poles left marked earth and field.. (do i need to earth this? surely it being bolted the the engine will earth the thing?)

As far as the Lucas alternators go, I have never found the need to earth them separately, they work just fine bolted to the block. These units have three wire connection, two big terminals and one small. If you look into the back of the unit you will see that the two big ones are actually just joined together. This just limits the current across the spade connectors and allows you to route two thinner wires instead of one massive one. The small terminal is fed from the ignition warning light. The other side of the ignition warning light comes from an ignition controlled live feed. This is true of the Lucas unit which has an internal regulator but I wonder whether yours, with one terminal marked 'field' is an older type requiring an external regulator?

[demus]

Hi dutch paul, just for the info I bought a new lucas 55amp alternator about a fortnight ago from my local Panks autoelectrical place for £55. Its quite small as well and sinks down in line with the rocker cover.

Cheers,

[Dutch Paul]

Originally Posted by demus

Hi dutch paul, just for the info I bought a new lucas 55amp alternator about a fortnight ago from my local Panks autoelectrical place for £55. Its quite small as well and sinks down in line with the rocker cover.

Cheers,

Thanks for that Mark
I will bear it in mind - do you have a part number?