Technical 1954 Buick Special

First timer,
I Just bought a 1954 Buick Special I believe the engine is a 264 Nailhead engine. I was wanting to convert from the generator to an alternator. Does anyone have experience with this conversion? Is there a kit with brackets and hardware needed? Thanks for any help.

 

@joe p.

It should be fairly easy to adapt a GM alternator to your existing generator bracket and belt adjustment arm. A tubular spacer between the alternator's rear mounting lug and the rear bracket tab, and a bolt long enough to span that space, should handle the mounting.

Either do a search here or on Google for a wiring diagram. It is not difficult, but of course needs to be correct and I too would refer to a diagram when making the change.

I really like '54 Buicks.....Congrats on your find.

Ray

 

I had a generator on mine, worked perfectly, why wouldn't you want to run one?

 

Thank You I appreciate your response

 

I'm new to this car. Talked to a local Buick owner (1956) he suggested an alternator would be better for night cruising in stop and go traffic. Thanks for your input the more I learn will help me make the best decision.

 

Lets see some pictures of your new car. It is good to see some Buicks on here.

 

I have the bracket you need. Mounts GM alternator on 54 Buick Gen mount.

 

I'd say drive it for a bit and see if you have any issues before making the change. I'm not that big of a fan of generators but right now the "If it ain't broke don't fix it" line of thinking applies.
True if you are running halogens and have a sound system with an amp the generator may not keep up cruising at night but back in 1966 I cruised my 55 Buick just about every Friday night for hours on end on either the Renton Loop or on Yakima Avenue in serious stop and go and never had an issue.
If the generator is giving trouble and you aren't bent on keeping it then change to an alternator with enough amps to handle what ever you plan to put on the car.
There are several ways to wire an alternator in in place of a generator

I have used this one several times. It does take putting a diode in the exciter wire.


I've also done this one that uses a light rather than the diode

 

Thanks all for responses. work keeps me form coming back to this sight more often. I know the expense will be overboard but I'm kind of sold on the Powermaster one wire alternator so it will have the same look as my generator and also bolt on the same mount. I'm hoping to get some help with wiring from those of you with more experience than myself. I was looking at the connections to the voltage regulator from the generator. It looks like the middle connection (GEN)on the regulator has the generators output wire and also a wire going to a relay for the starting circuit connected to it. If I'm understanding correctly when the motor is off the circuit in the regulator going to the battery is open do to contacts in the regulator being open. There is also no current going to the relay for the starting circuit so the contacts there are closed allowing for current to flow to the starter when the accelerator pedal is depressed. I'm thinking that if I connected the wire from a one wire alternator to the middle connection (GEN) on the voltage regulator , that part of the regulator will work like it has been supplying power and recharging the battery as well as opening the contacts in the starter relay so the starter will not engage with the motor running. I also really don't need to worry about over current or voltage because of the internal regulator of the alternator. Does anyone agree that this is correct or explain how I can wire the alternator.
As always I very much appreciate all the help and comments.