Looks OR operation? I'd like a drivable car that looks cool, but with bags it'd be a matter of looking cool because I wouldn't look as cool with an alternator OR my bags not working! And A/C really just for long hauls. 4 hours in a nonA/C car? No thanks! Maybe when I was 20 but not after 10 years of it!! Also, for the price of either one a spare is not stupid expensive and probably a good idea either way. I've had an alternator since I got the car and I'm definitely not singing their praises and saying they never fail. I've already repaired/replaced one, so a generator probably wouldn't be much of a change for me! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Ok, for the record, on a flathead powered car, the appearance of an alternator ****s rocks. I just can't deal with that. For any perfectly detailed period engine I would hold the same true. Now on the other hand, when I was going through "endlessearth's" little flatty powered car, it came with a powergen alternator in a generator case and it worked smashingly! Expensive, yes, but it worked and the next thing I'm about to say DIDN'T happen. I stopped messing with generators about twenty years ago, as that is when the traffic in Phoenix started to get out of hand. The problem that sealed it for me was sitting at a dark, semi rural stop light, I didn't realize that my taillights were so dark because of the generator's lack of charge at idle, I got hit from behind BAD! The combination of having the trans in neutral, my foot off the brake, gl*** taillight lenses, and the lack of charge at idle made my taillights invisible to the jack*** that was planning on "just runnin' that light, cause that's what everybody does out here...". Honestly, on stuff I drive around this congested big town these days will always have an alternator, unless it's perfect period car.
Sure alternators are the dogs balls at making lotsa electrickery, but ain't nothing looks as trad as an old school gennie hanging out the side of your fenderless - hoodless hiboy rod I reckon! Just keepin' real....
I like the idea of having the alternator in a generator case, BUT, no one makes one that carries the rotor/armature shaft to the back of the case. How exactly would anyone mount a power steering pump, or in the case of early Corvettes, the tachometer drive to a alternator in a generator case.
Yes Richard, '57 did use that. Probably the same unit the vette used for tach drive. Nothing wrong with the old gens. As a kid I had the low batt problem cruising at 15-20 mph at night with the lights and stereo blasting, but dad jacked up the regulator, and that helped a little. Remember if you you run a gen to be sure to oil the frt and rear bearings. I brought my brothers old 88 olds from calif. to kansas, checked everything but forgot to oil bearings and it seized up by the time I got to Winslow Az. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Yes, Chevy did that from 1955-59. On Corvettes, the spline on the rear of the generator ran the tachometer cable.
This argument will be bandied about on here until we all end up as dust. As Need Louvers said in his post, the normal thing with a generator is that the lights go dim when you are sitting at a stop light and quite often the guy behind you can't tell that they are even on. That is the way they work and you can't get around it. In most cases it still boils down to looks and or what you are running for accessories that take electricity. Just lights, horn and not much else, a generator works fine and always has. Start loading more powerful lights in the headlights so you can see at the 70+ you run down the highways going to or returning from places you go with your hot rod along with adding a sound system, compressor for air bags and air conditioning because it's too damned hot to drive cross country like you did 35 years ago now that you are older and an alternator seems a lot more practical. One thing not mentioned is the "broke down on the side of the road, need help" thing. In the years I have been on the HAMB the number one break down item for the 50/62 year models is a ****ped out generator and no replacement in sight. Usually on a car that someone just got going but if you run one make sure it is in perfect condition so it works and has a lot less chance of ****ping out.
Thank you hotrod54chevy for bumping this and thank you Tony for answering again. This has helped me. You guys are really helping the FNG's to the scene. I am thinking about running a 12 volt generator in my '54 Chevy and using a converter under the dash to keep stock radio and guages.
Funny, a couple of weeks ago I was over at a friends shop that was working on a low mileage original '57 'Vette, and he showed me a Powergen style alternator in a generator case that was set up for the car's tach drive. It was done by someone in the early 'Vette community, but I'm not quite sure who. I could certainly ask if you'd like though.
Glad to help, but a stock 6 volt radio isn't going to work with anything if you're running 12v, is it? I've only seen one voltage regulator for the job and even the makers don't promise it'll work. This has been my latest thread/obsession until I find TWO rebuilt generators and regulators! Gotta have a spare! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Guys, I'm looking at 12v generators, trying to get edumacated and stuff! Anyway, I found some of these, and it says they're 50 amps. Is that possible? I thought 30 amps was the best you can expect? http://bit.ly/1dG3ssP Also, maybe I'm showing my ignorance here, but what attaches to the back? I've seen generator/PS pump combos before, but. I don't think that's what this is? Just thought I'd ask! Thanks! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Did you miss this ?: In case you don't know, Piper is a light aircraft Look at the pulley diameter size also, that is much too big for automotive rpm use.
I am going back to a generator on my 37 Chevy p/u as soon as I find a 40 to 55 amp gen off a larger GM car,thanks to my motors manuals I got the numbers for them if I would only remember to bring it with me to the swapmeets.
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