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Tiny Alternators? Hide one? Disguise one??

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by scootermcrad, Jul 1, 2008.

  1. 46Ford
    Joined: Jul 7, 2006
    Posts: 81

    46Ford
    Member

    Most of those small tractors use Nippondenso alternators. Some are not much bigger than your fist, but the amperage ratings are low on the really tiny units.

    This is a Denso unit off of a 92 Suzuki Swift. It's rated at 50 amps and is pretty small. I put this on my T. Just to give you an idea of the size, a late model GM alternator would barely squeeze in where this fits with no problem. I did have to convert it over to a V belt pulley.

    If you need some dimensions, I can go out to the shop and get them for you.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  2. Slag Kustom
    Joined: May 10, 2004
    Posts: 4,312

    Slag Kustom
    Member

    how much room do you have infront of the motor???

    you can use a harley stator and rotor mounted to the crank pulley it will add about 1 1/2 inches to the front I think a full dresser makes 45 amps
     
  3. rcnut223
    Joined: Oct 12, 2006
    Posts: 1,282

    rcnut223
    Member
    from wisconsin

    I swa one run off of the drive shat at the rear of the car once. Hidden and really cool!!!!
     
  4. I had the same problem on my 392 w/6 carbs...no more room, so I ended up with it on the axle:
    [​IMG]
    Here's a pick before the 6x2 w/gen:
    [​IMG]
     
  5. kruzin karl
    Joined: Mar 17, 2008
    Posts: 93

    kruzin karl
    Member

    So... unless I'm missing something here, you've just run out of space lengthwise, right?
    Why don't you do the alternator inside a generator case conversion, and just cut off some of the generator case to make it shorter?
     
  6. 73RR
    Joined: Jan 29, 2007
    Posts: 7,342

    73RR
    Member

    Hey Scooter, if you find something alot shorter than the Mopar unit be sure to let us know. I have been searching for quite some time to find a suitable unit for use on a 241 Dodge that needs to sit in front of the head and not push the pulleys out....not much room in the 40 Ford pu.
     
  7. btmatt
    Joined: Nov 15, 2006
    Posts: 227

    btmatt
    Member

  8. Johnny Sparkle
    Joined: Sep 20, 2003
    Posts: 1,226

    Johnny Sparkle
    Member


    Got any pictures of this setup?
     
  9. I seem to recall this is "The Green Grenade" and it has one running off the flywheel & appears to be mounted on the bellhousing...

    Sorry, can't find the full size one, but you get an idea...

    This is looking down onto it at the rear of the motor.

    [​IMG]

    Hope it helps?

    :cool:
     
  10. ElPlymino
    Joined: Jun 26, 2005
    Posts: 263

    ElPlymino
    Member
    from Orcutt

    Racers use the Geo Metro Alt because of its small size. 80's/90's cars. You might try a parts house to look at the size or a bone yard. Those cars have a 3 cyl motor.

    [​IMG]
     
  11. seret
    Joined: Apr 28, 2008
    Posts: 539

    seret
    Member

    look into a lucas gen. off a 60s british sports car, like MG. there really small. you can order them rebuilt from NAPA. get the lucas voltage reg too.
     
  12. Awesome redneck fan belt man.... (Yeah, I know you were only mocking it up, but its great)
     
  13. Flat Ernie
    Joined: Jun 5, 2002
    Posts: 8,406

    Flat Ernie
    Tech Editor

    Suzuki motorcycles have alternators that can be adapted - pretty small too.
     
  14. Jeff Norwell
    Joined: Aug 20, 2003
    Posts: 15,303

    Jeff Norwell
    MODERATOR
    Staff Member





    Yes.....I agree.... Loudpedal had a unique way of mounting his Alt. on the Green Grenade..... a pm to him or to maybe B***.(Brian had the car in possesion for a while) ......as I recall.
    It was pretty neat.
     
  15. nexxussian
    Joined: Mar 14, 2007
    Posts: 3,237

    nexxussian
    Member

    I figure this is probably no, but do you hve any room under the oil pan (again, I'm expecting a no here)?

    I saw a ford picup w/ a flatty at a show that was setup that way (took me a while of looking to find it too, cause I didn't want to touch the guy's truck).
     
  16. stealthcruiser
    Joined: Dec 24, 2002
    Posts: 3,750

    stealthcruiser
    Member


    I am thinking that the setup would make for some ***-tro- nomical rpm!
    You know,from a big 'ole pulley,to the small one on the alternator.

    I too,would like to see this setup.
     
  17. Von Rigg Fink
    Joined: Jun 11, 2007
    Posts: 13,401

    Von Rigg Fink
    Member
    from Garage

    this is just a suggestion.
    I have a Ural Motorcycle that was the BMW design stolen by Stalin back in WW2
    The new ones (still made in the Ural Mountans of Russa) has a bosh alternator on the back of the engine..this ****er is small but mighty. i believe they told me 65 amp..im sure that would be enough for that car? maybe?
    if your interested in dimensions and pictures PM me and I'll send them to you.
    to get an idea of the size its about the size of both your fists held togeather..maybe even smaller if your a big guy.
     
  18. loudpedal
    Joined: Mar 23, 2004
    Posts: 2,209

    loudpedal
    Member
    from SLC Utah

    Actually it is just a normal crankshaft pulley from a Big Block Chevy that is mounted on a spacer between the flexplate and the crank. The alternator is mounted on the top of the bellhousing on the inspection cover boss (long-bell Hemi). A small removable hump in the firewall allows access to the alternator from the inside of the car (just like working on a van)...

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  19. jonny o
    Joined: Oct 26, 2007
    Posts: 836

    jonny o
    Member

    All this reminds me of a light on my old schwinn... pressed a ****on and a little gear dropped on top of the rear tire to power the light.

    Hey... how much room you got in the wheelwells?
     
  20. JeffreyJames
    Joined: Jun 13, 2007
    Posts: 16,626

    JeffreyJames
    Member
    from SUGAR CITY

    Didn't Troy Ladd from HHR have a pretty cool set up on the Orange Hemi Roadster. It was like the alternator was put under the body between the frame rails and was driven from a shaft that ran to the front of the engine? I tried to look for pictures but could not find one. I am pretty sure that is was in the Rod & Custom Feature but not on their online article.
     
  21. scootermcrad
    Joined: Sep 20, 2005
    Posts: 12,383

    scootermcrad
    Member

    Hey there are some really innovative solutions here!

    Kris! That alternator setup from the rear is AWESOME! Was that a 354? What transmission and adapter was behind that?? Very clever. I may look into that. I'm not sure if I can do it with my setup, but very cool!

    I like these little Japanese car alternators I see. Painted black they may not be so bad. I think if I can't fit the early style Mopar on there then I will try out one of these little compact car alternators like the Geo or Suzuki units.
     
  22. scootermcrad
    Joined: Sep 20, 2005
    Posts: 12,383

    scootermcrad
    Member

    Different car. It was a 32 roadster I think. I'll try and find the pictures. I talked to him about it at the show. It was the flexi-shaft setup from McMaster Carr.
     
  23. nailheadroadster
    Joined: Jun 7, 2006
    Posts: 1,525

    nailheadroadster
    Member

    A pulley up front running a shaft with bearings would allow the alternator to mount just about anywhere depending on how long you want the shaft to be. (i.e. back by the transmission) The shaft would have to be supported with brackets obviously, but that should give you the flexability to mount it father back in the ch***is.

    EDIT : JefferyJames suggestion is the same idea. He beat me to it while I was typin. LOL
     
  24. JeffreyJames
    Joined: Jun 13, 2007
    Posts: 16,626

    JeffreyJames
    Member
    from SUGAR CITY

    The Orange Hemi Roadster was a '32. This was the car, but I still cannot find a pic of the alternator.

    [​IMG]
     
  25. scootermcrad
    Joined: Sep 20, 2005
    Posts: 12,383

    scootermcrad
    Member

    It's NOT this car. I have tons of pictures of this car. He just has an alternator (or maybe it was a generator) mounted down low on the right side on this one. It's an entirely different roadster that has the shaft drive. I'll put the picture up of the shaft drive setup in a minute.
     
  26. JeffreyJames
    Joined: Jun 13, 2007
    Posts: 16,626

    JeffreyJames
    Member
    from SUGAR CITY

    Even if it's not the car, you get my drift and know what I was going after. T'was my two cents and since you talked to Troy about it already, you know the general idea that I was thinking of. I am over here on the Poor Ol' East Coast so I don't get to see these cars first hand. I will trust your judgment if your saying it was a different car.
     
  27. loudpedal
    Joined: Mar 23, 2004
    Posts: 2,209

    loudpedal
    Member
    from SLC Utah

    1951 331 Hemi (long bell). Homemade trans adapter (700R-4). About half of the transmission bellhousing is cut off and an aluminum plate with the Hemi bolt pattern is welded on the trans case. The trans ended up being about 5 inches shorter than stock after the mods...
     
  28. scootermcrad
    Joined: Sep 20, 2005
    Posts: 12,383

    scootermcrad
    Member

    I thought I took a picture of the actual pulley arrangement on the engine, but I didn't. Here is the shaft drive setup with the alt. mounted in the frame.

    [​IMG]

    Anyone have a picture of the pully arrangement? I'll try to dig it up in McMaster and post it.

    Even then... I don't have room for something like this, which brings me back to just a good 'ol small packaged alternator.
     
  29. scootermcrad
    Joined: Sep 20, 2005
    Posts: 12,383

    scootermcrad
    Member

    AHHHH!!! I was thinking that was a 354 for some reason. Now that explains it. That would totally work with a long bell. Great idea and great execution! Was it a total ***** to get to the flywheel bolts with that pulley mounted in there??
     
  30. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 36,029

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    You guys suggesting the alternator mount on the rear end or drive shaft forget one important fact. If the car isn't moving down the road at a decent speed it isn't charging. That means no cruising around town at slow speeds, no cruising the fairgrounds for any length of time and you may run into trouble if you get caught in traffic for length of time. Also for those of you who can't live without the big sound systems blaring away, no power to recharge the battery when it goes dead while cruising main at the rod trot.

    The belt driven off the flywheel is interesting but what the hell are you going to do if you loose a belt on a road trip besides call a tow rig. You have to pull the trans to swap belts. Not practical in any way on a rig that gets any miles besides in and out of the trailer.

    Pop one of those small case alternators shown above apart, paint the case the same dull black as a generator or other belt driven accessory or paint it the engine color and stick it on and 60% of people won't notice it, 35% of the guys will take photos, say way cool on how you mounted it and the other 5% will whine because you didn't run a generator that you can't find a replacement for on the road unless one of the guys with a similar engine has one stashed in his trunk.
     

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