Alternator swap on 3.4 tech thread.

[pirateblktaco]

THE PREDICAMENT- I recently installed a new stereo system as well as some aux. lights and a few other items that were apparently to much draw for my little ol' alternator. Now granted its prob the original alternator and what not but anyway it crapped out.

THE SOLUTION(S)- HOLY CRAP! Are there a lot of options out there for upgrading an alternator and it never ceases to amaze me how parts from different vehicles can be adapted with little or no modification...I digress. So I looked into aftermarket "HO" alternators but at 300-500 dollars those really weren't an option. I also looked into having my alternator reman'd with a amp-up kit which would cost around 100 dollars and was a very possible solution until I realized my roomates truck whose I was driving since mine crapped, his tags expire on OCT 31ST and after that I can no longer get on base and to work. So what I settled on was a swap to a GM alternator with a higher stock output. Ther are many GM alternators that will work I wont get into the list, what I chose to use was one for a 1995 CADILLAC DEVILLE WITH THE HEATED WINSHEILD, it has a 120 amp idle output and 140 amp at highway speed (almost double my stock alt.). You can get the same one from a junkyard for cheaper at a junkyard but its like my dad always said when working on cars, "THE BITTERNESS OF POOR QUALITY REMAINS LONG AFTER THE SWEETNESS OF LOW PRICES IS FORGOTTEN"

I believe the pictures pretty much speak for themselves I will go into detail where needed and answer any questions.


This is the part number for the alternator I used from advanced auto. You can get the one W/out heated windshield but the one with it was 25 bucks cheaper and thats why i chose it.


Pulley is about the same size and has a cooling fan attached


Just a tid of a size difference.




The GM has the same 12 and 6 attachment points but the 12 oclock one is a quarter inch shorter

Just a few washers and viola same size . Be sure and put the washers on the inboard (as pictured) side of the mount for proper belt alignment.

As I said installation is straight forward no modification of brackets needed no or unless your into that sorta thing. me, I love bolt ons.

WIRING-


You will notice the GM alternator has an "xtra" prong DO NOT PANIC. This can be easily remedied with the simple purchase of a GM pigtail, advanced auto P/N-85854. It will have a red wire, black wire and a brown wire (dont ask why there is 4 prongs and 3 wires I dont know). Your stock harness will have a red wire, white wire and a yellow wire. You will connect the brown wire from your GM harness to the yellow wire (idiot light) on your stock harness. Secondly you will loop the thick red wire from the GM harness to the BATT post on the back of the alternator, i used a simple crimp-on hole connector. The black wire from the GM harness is not used, again I don't know why. You will also need to switch out the elec. fitting on the thick wire coming from your battery to a bigger one cause the post on the GM is bigger


I did not totally cut my toyota harness off just snipped the wire I needed and tucked it out of the way incase I ever get caught somewhere and someone has an extra stock alternator.


Belt is routed the same as stock but the GM alternator is a six groove so you have a couple extra grooves, not sure if it will jump but I keep a pretty good eye on my belt tensions and what not so im not worried.

TOTAL INVESTED
GM 140amp re-man alternator- 124.99 advanced auto
GM HARNESS- 8.99 advanced auto
subtract from that 10% for the MILITARY DISCOUNT advanced offers
~ 120 BUCKS TOTAL

I will now take questions and comments from the class.

[TacoDell]

belt looks flush up to the inside of the pulley... probably not a problem.
but could wear the belt if it drags some.

maybe space that 1/4" on the forward side. Or an 1/8 on each side ?

look forward to a follow up... after some seat time.

[pirateblktaco]

Originally Posted by TacoDell

belt looks flush up to the inside of the pulley... probably not a problem.
but could wear the belt if it drags some.

maybe space that 1/4" on the forward side. Or an 1/8 on each side ?

look forward to a follow up... after some seat time.

It's no different as far as contact than with the stock pulley just from eyeball comparison with my buddies tacoma. and the spacer on the inboard side is to keep the belt straight. I put the spacer on the frontside and it angled the belt back.

[Ritchie]

Quote:

GM pigtail, advanced auto P/N-85854. It will have a red wire, black wire and a brown wire (dont ask why there is 4 prongs and 3 wires I dont know). Your stock harness will have a red wire, white wire and a yellow wire. You will connect the brown wire from your GM harness to the yellow wire (idiot light) on your stock harness.

Cool idea. My stock alternator is about to die. Looking through this site, I had a feeling I would stumble upon something along the lines of what I want to do.

I have a few questions:

1. Are you saying that you only used one wire (yellow) from the stock harness?

2. What did you do with the 2 other wires in the stock harness?

3. Are you running 2 batteries?

TanxBra'

[nation]

who does a rewire on stock alternators?having 3 vehicles allows for down time and 100 for more output would be awsome

[pirateblktaco]

Originally Posted by nation

who does a rewire on stock alternators?having 3 vehicles allows for down time and 100 for more output would be awsome

Boyle future technology is the company that did a few of the guys from thiss site from what i read (cant remember which thread). he will do your alternator for ~100 bucks or send you a ready to bolt in one for around 200 i believe dont quote me though cause I never actually called them. Other companies are power master also excessiveamperage.com has some.

Originally Posted by Ritchie

1. Are you saying that you only used one wire (yellow) from the stock harness?

2. What did you do with the 2 other wires in the stock harness?

3. Are you running 2 batteries?

TanxBra'

1. yes I only used the one wire (yellow) from the original harness.
2. i capped them taped them and left the there along with the stock harness.
3. Not yet but when I get to my sliders and a winch I will deff look into a dual battery set-up.

UPDATE

So I've been running the alternator about a week and here is my short term update. Belt has stayed tight, no signs of excessive wear from where it is sittin at on the pulley. May be placebo but, truck seems to have a better powerband at night when I have my headlights on and my stereo runnig. before it seemed kinda sluggish when there was a lot of draw on the system. But overall no problems seems to be running like a champ and I am super happy with my investment.

[Ritchie]

Thanks for to reply and post. This is happening to my truck as soon as I am back from vacation. I just hopes it starts when I return for the drive home from LAX to San Diego.

One more question:

Did you try to install the original pulley?

TanxBra'

[pirateblktaco]

Originally Posted by Ritchie

Thanks for to reply and post. This is happening to my truck as soon as I am back from vacation. I just hopes it starts when I return for the drive home from LAX to San Diego.

One more question:

Did you try to install the original pulley?

TanxBra'

No because the hole on the toyota pulley is of a smaller diameter than the gm. suppoed u might be able to buy a 4 groove pulley i may look into it. but i needed a fix asap