I want to run a generator, am I crazy?

All I run on my hot rods !!

 

I have never had a problem with American built generators, but those Lucas English jobs are a different story. Put in a rebuilt gen and NEW regulator in my MGB and a month later the thing had overheated the commutator solder and went bad. Replaced it with a Delco Alternator and regulator, along with switching to a negative ground and everything was fine then.

Another issue I have come across is with IDIOT lights for generator status. My 50's cars (both 6 and 12V) that have those things will glow very dimly with lights on at night and will brighten up with heater fan, radio, and anything you operate. My reasoning on this is that as the load on the battery and generator goes up, the generator must compensate and charges higher, while the battery stays at a constant voltage. The idiot light is wired between the armature of the generator and the battery terminal that is not grounded. Therefore there is a very small difference in the two points as far as voltage, thus lighting the idiot light ever so dimly. (The charging system is fine, just the light comes on dimly)

 

If you get it built right you wont have that prob. You need to get the armature silver soldered. And get a good fan. I reved my sedan well over 5500 on a 2 to many nights.

 

Well, you are certainly the pro and I'm not. I know that I had it rebuilt several times down here and told them the problems I was having. Kept on having armatures let go, so I went to the alternator and haven't looked back. (And I spin it a tad past 5500 now!)

 

I understand , really. I would run an alt but they just look gay on a hot rod. I have reall thought about a chrysler alt tho because they were the first. But the new nipondenso alts are double GAY !

 

I've had problems with certain generators and then no problems at all with others...the car I have now just has headlights and a brake switch, no electric fan or electric fuel pump, windshield wipers, or radio. I have had absolutely no problems at all with it...it's a late 50's/early 60's 348 in a '30 roadster. Generators work fine and look cooler.

Adam

 

As another ex rebuilder - never a truer word spoken. Don't waste your time with a junk regulator, and don't overtighten your fan belt. Your gennie will give good reliable service.

 

did you try a larger diameter pulley?

 

Of course alternators are working "better", but there is usually no reliability issues with generators, they do work even on a daily driver in the wintertime here in northern sweden.

 

The only time I ever had issue with a generator was when the load was high and engine speed was low.

For example, I'm sitting there in my TR4, it's night, raining, cold, and I'm in traffic at a light. The headlights, wipers, heater/defroster, turn signals, brake lights, and radio are all on. As I sit there, the juice slowly starts to drain from the battery because at idle the generator is only putting out a few amps.

 

I can't remember if I did, or not. I talked about it with the shop that rebuilt it, but I can't remember if we tried that. It's been years. After it left my wife and I stranded with a dead battery, again, I was done. I gayed out with a 1960 technology alternator and haven't been stranded since. (Except breaking stuff at the track)

Back to the point of the question. If you want to putt around with the "cool" crowd, you should put a generator. Your running a 327, so I"m guessing your car won't be spot on five 'o.

If you want to spin it to 7000+, you're safer with an alternator. Use it as a hot rod, not a restoration.

 

If your are running a full on drag car, like above , run a alternator. or nothing , charge your battery between rounds. If you wont to drive to the track and still run a 100 pluss a little, run a gen. But do as the Dirtys do carry an extra generator. My limiter was set at 8000 and sturtered a fiew times.

 

You know good and well my car is a street car. I was just trying to state my experience with my generators to give the guy some input.

 

And I was stating my experience also. I put well over 15000 miles on the tudor .Street cars are driven never trailered unless they are broke. Thank God I never broke. Drove to mokan and ran 109 with only taking out the child seat, toolbox , luggage etc. Rusty had never even been on a track or drove my car on a track and ran 100. With a gen. I think alternators are very good for 63 and newer but on a true hot rod they need to have a gen. If I can get my caddy powered 32 to run 80 I will be stoked. You the Man Buzzard..