The most traditional 12v alternator? Post pics...

Just wondering what style 12v alternator was most used back in the day. Also, has anyone created 12v innards for the old generators?

Post pics

 

here's a good post on taking alternator guts and putting them in a generator case.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29715

Here's a site that has a product that I saw on one of the hotrod shows on tv.
http://www.gener-nator.com/

There's another one out there too...PowerGen or something like that...but it's over $400 I think.

 

I was going to hide my micro alternator inside a length of pvc pipe. Small Kubota tractors use a Nippondenso altnator thats only 4 1/2 inches in diameter. I'll try to find the part no. later today and repost

 

There were 6V and 12V gennies, so I would say the innards were by Delco........

 

Alternators were not used "back in the day". They used generators.

 

The 1st early "hot rod" applications I remember were the Mopars. A little big but it was old world high-tech.

 

Yup...apparently Mopar was one of the first domestics to use an alternator. My 63 had one since new.
I have no idea when they first used them.

 

I know Ford started in 65. Not sure about GM.

 

65 Buick Electra we had used a gen.
67 Electra had an alternator...

 

63 Impalas had alternators.

 

First year for Mopar alternators is 1960

 

First year for Chevy alternators was '62.

 

My 60 Ford has a 12v Generator. It looks pretty Traditional to me!

 

The alternator guts in the generator case link is pure genius.

$800+ for the Gener-nator.add $200 for chrome (gasp)! Sticker shock here to look traditional!!! Man, I'm used to puting together entire engines for that.

 

Are you sure about that? You could lose some money on a bar bet. Most likely these were on cop cars and other cars and trucks with extra electrical equipment.

It was late in the 60s before alternators became popular on a new build. There might have been some wiring wizards that figured it out in the 60s but not any in my area.

We knew how to hook up a generator and the mounts were everywhere. It took a while for the information on how to hook one up, without an idiot light, to get around. It's so basic today. It's hard to remember that it was new technology back then with no web sides for wiring diagrams and wiring kits were available. I remember seeing Chrysler alternators with their distinctive look on GM engines first.

A stereo transistorized radio was state of the art and required less juice than a tube type mono radio. There were no electric fans to deal with.

Alternators took off when the aftermarket industry started to supply already chrome plated brackets to bolt them on. Cheap and EASY I bought one in 1978. I don't want my cars to look cheap or easy now a days.

If you are thinking an early style alternator will look cool on a traditional rod...it won't. To me anyway. There are a few of us that can tell by the look if it is an early style with a separate regulator but those that do will probably think you just got one for free and used it.

I'll get off my soap box now but you asked so I ***umed you really wanted to know. Alternators do not belong on a pre-1974 hotrod. JMO

 

Dont know if its OK to do this but there is a UK company called WASP that builds alternators inside a generator casing. Many vinatge cars over here run them
Gerry

 

For your first question the GM setup was what we used like say from a mid '60s impala.

12v generators were around for a long time but if you want to convert a 6V to 12v you just change the fields and the regulator. Get 12v fields from a later 12v genny and go to NAPA and buy a 12v regulator. You end up with a batter 12v generator, the 6V genny had a heavier armature than the 12V as a rule. done deal.

 

Is there any particular reason why you want to run an alternator? If you're adding lots of modern electric stuff to your ride you may need it, but if not then a generator will work fine and look good.

Chevy went to 12v in 55, they used generators thru 1961. Not hard to find. They were only rated to about 25-30 amps though.

 

Squirrel GM went to the alt in '61 or 2? Damn I'm getting old I thought they didn't change over 'til about 63 or 4. I'm just askin'.

 

yeah they were using them on just about everything in 62

 

I'll change my mind and say 63, although alternators are listed for 62-up models in the parts books, they weren't common until 63. And it's been a long time since I saw any of these cars at the junkyard....

 

I was just curious, well that and trying to remember. Seemed like I remember them both ways but who knows what was molested before I got there.

 

It might have been an option or a mid year thing just going by these 63 pictures. I can't remember.