[dainfamouskid07]

I'm sure people have ran into this situation once or twice when modifying their vehicle. And I need a good answer/advice if someone is willing to help lol...haven't been up here in a while but another fox brought me back ....anyway I have a fox 5.0 fuel injected...h/c/i...aftermarket cap/rotor/distributor...crane ignition...yellow top optimal battery....no power steering...no ac...no smog...no speakers....no radio...no interior lights except for instrument panel and gauges...still has power locks/windows/mirrors.....still use outside lighting/wipers...basically its still a street car even tho its not daily driven....it has nitrous solenoids in it but even the nitrous is currently not hooked on possible future installation but not right now so that's really nothing of concern right now....it has a single wire altenator that just went during normal street drive...Its an aftermarket altenator but there is no engraving or stamp indicating the output of the altenator....some shops or people are telling me I might need sumtin like 100amp but I don't see the real need because its not like I'm tryin to ride on 40 inch rims 10 tvs and 25 speakers...the stock one is a p.o.s but I really want something that I can have on there for a while and can still be streetable....that's I believe all these higher output altenators like the 3g upgrade is just too much....I'm not tryin to have a bonfire either with it lol....any help or advice from u fellas/ladies would be highly appreciated!

[kmedeiros88]

95 amp from PA performance can be had from Mustang Parts, Chevy Truck Parts & Dodge Challenger Parts at Latemodel Restoration Supply I would recommend the 130a but you have to modify the alternator bracket. The 95a is a direct bolt in and will be plenty for your needs. I'm running that unit myself.

[dainfamouskid07]

Thx for your input man!

[kmedeiros88]

No prob, If you ever do decide to run an electric fan / radio with amp(s) and speakers, then you might need to upgrade to the 130A. The 95A is good for your car though. I think it would still be ok even if you had underdrive pullies.

[fogged306]

One thing you have to realize is that the amperage rating of an alternator isn't what it puts out at idle. It's at peak RPM's for the alternator. So at idle you aren't pushing close to 100A with a 100A alternator. At night with the lights on and the heat on full blast, you can be drawing quite a bit of amperage at idle. Throw an electric fan in there like mentioned above, and it's even more. The stock alternators were pretty weak from the factory and if you're already one wire, I wouldn't take a step backwards and change it back to a stock type. You can never have too much alternator, they all have voltage regulators. If the battery starts to overcharge, voltage goes beyond what the regulator is set for and the alternator stops charging.

[mxnate116]

just hit your local junkyard and pickup a 96+ mustang alternator. its the 130a stocker. usually run for 35$. i put one on my fox and havent had any problems with it.

[cleangtvert]

dude, just put a j/y 3g alt on. like mxnate116 said they are about $35 bucks at the j/y. your allready wired for it. i have had 0 problems after doing the swap.

[kmedeiros88]

The good thing about the PA performance one is the lifetime warranty. But as mentioned, you can't beat a $35 j/y 130a.

[fiveohmustang29]

Swap in a '94 alternator. Did it in my '89, most cost effective way to get a more powerful alternator. Below is a walkthrough.

The 3G Alternator Project

[mxnate116]

Screw the lifetime warranty, if the junkyard alt goes out you can buy 4 more before you hit the price of the 90amp alt

[kmedeiros88]

Originally Posted by mxnate116 Screw the lifetime warranty, if the junkyard alt goes out you can buy 4 more before you hit the price of the 90amp alt

That's only if all 4 work, there's no guarentee at the junkyard. Plus I wouldn't want some rusty POS in my engine bay. I'm set for life now.

[91cobra5.0]

FORD MUSTANG 1-WIRE 3G ALTERNATOR 65-71 87 1996 150 AMP | eBay

[mxnate116]

Originally Posted by kmedeiros88 That's only if all 4 work, there's no guarentee at the junkyard. Plus I wouldn't want some rusty POS in my engine bay. I'm set for life now.

all the yards around here have a warranty that says theyll at least work, hell im pretty sure they were tested. and mine looks brand new.

[89greenstang]

i just got mine from the junk yard it was 35 with a 30 day warranty and before i put it in i had pep boys test it

[kmedeiros88]

That's good if you can find a decent donor car. I don't go to the yard that often because there's just so much junk. Where I go, you pay $40 and you can grab as much shit as you can carry, no warranty though. Either that, or you pay by the part if it's too heavy to carry. Do your junkyards really give warranties on all parts, motors included? Around here we have to check the motor, usually can tell if it's bad by the fluids, but still no warranty.

[dennislv]

Originally Posted by kmedeiros88 The good thing about the PA performance one is the lifetime warranty. But as mentioned, you can't beat a $35 j/y 130a.

That's not entirely accurate. I bought the 130amp 3g that PA Performance sells. After about 4 months, the bearings went in it and it destroyed my belt. I called them, and yeah they sent me another, but it didn't work. After arguing with them for DAYS, it turns out the voltage regulator was bad in the NEW alternator, that they supposedly tested.

It was a fucking nightmare. What killed it for them is they argued with me over and over and over, about how it could not happen.

Then the one guy said he was going to send me a new voltage regulator (since I'm using the one from the original that seized it bearings) and they never did.

[mxnate116]

Originally Posted by kmedeiros88 That's good if you can find a decent donor car. I don't go to the yard that often because there's just so much junk. Where I go, you pay $40 and you can grab as much shit as you can carry, no warranty though. Either that, or you pay by the part if it's too heavy to carry. Do your junkyards really give warranties on all parts, motors included? Around here we have to check the motor, usually can tell if it's bad by the fluids, but still no warranty.

at the pull it yourself yards, no there is no warranty, guarantee, nothing. but the yards i go to around here they pull the parts for you, most things like motors, trannys, alternators, ect have been pulled separated, and sometimes given a quick test. spaldings will usually test and engine and tell you the condition and oil pressure.

[dennislv]

Originally Posted by mxnate116 at the pull it yourself yards, no there is no warranty, guarantee, nothing.

Thats not always the case. Sometimes they give you a guarantee that its not DOA when you install it. Check with them...

[kmedeiros88]

Yeah, I've only been to the pull it yourself yards, lol. Only been to two differenct junk yards before too. About the PA performance thing. I'm sure if you kept nagging them, eventually you would have gotten what you wanted. Persistance is key.

[fogged306]

Originally Posted by dennislv That's not entirely accurate. I bought the 130amp 3g that PA Performance sells. After about 4 months, the bearings went in it and it destroyed my belt. I called them, and yeah they sent me another, but it didn't work. After arguing with them for DAYS, it turns out the voltage regulator was bad in the NEW alternator, that they supposedly tested. It was a fucking nightmare. What killed it for them is they argued with me over and over and over, about how it could not happen. Then the one guy said he was going to send me a new voltage regulator (since I'm using the one from the original that seized it bearings) and they never did.

Had the same exact thing happen to me with ohio generator. Bad bearings and the alternator started knocking around. Had them send me a new alternator and it was charging at 18v. They argued with me telling me it was my fault during install.. .it was a one fucking wire alternator, lol. Ended up actually having to pay for them to send me a new regulator because they told me to eat shit and they weren't going to replace it for me. If it wasn't for a customers car who already paid for the dual alternator mount setup specific to their alternator I wouldn't have sent them a dime, but I had to bite the bullet and pay for a new one to be sent. Seems they're not the only bullshit alternator company.