How Identify a good 3 wire alternator from a junkyard? I can either pull it from a car or ask if they have a pile to choose from? If I pull it from a car,which is the best donor? If they have it in a pile,how to identify it? If junkyard dont have one,how to ask for it at the part store? This is for a 350 chevy,I plan to buy the 3 to 1 wire conversion and its going for a coe with basic wiring, Thanks I hope you understand that I dont live close to any autoparts or JY so I have to take advantage of little trips like today. Thanks.
Look for a 10si. You should be tripping over them in the junkyard. Suggest keeping the 3 wires. Here's a good tech article on why: http://www.madelectrical.com/electricaltech/onewire-threewire.shtml
Why would you risk buying an alternator from a junkyard? You are taking a big risk that is is "JunK" and they are plenty cheap at the parts store. If you are going to have to drive to a junkyard, then drive to a parts store.
No indication on the alternator itself, but here's an article that explains the differences with pics of the 10si vs. the 12si http://www.madelectrical.com/electricaltech/delcoremy.shtml
"Junk" yard alternators..... There are parts kits available, to rebuild them, and there is nothing complicated about the process. After all we rodders ARE a do it your sef bunch..... GO for it !!!! Happy Roddin'..... 4TTRUK
Most auto parts stores will test for alternators free. And salvage yards typically exchange an alternator bought from them if bad. A new alternator purchased will require a core exchanged or that will be added to the cost. And if new alternator doesn't work for your application, it cannot be returned once installed.
Yeah - but if he isn't near any junk yards or parts stores (as he stated) and has to make a long drive, it wouldn't make sense to go get a junk yard part, find out it doesn't work, then try and find a parts store that might have a rebuild kit and drive all over again. If he's really in Death Valley, this could be 50+ miles each way, each time.
There are a lot of ****py parts store alternators out there. If you want a good one try your local rebuilder. Not that much more expensive either. Every rebuilder has a catalog of parts he can order from. There are about 4 levels of quality from poor to excellent. Offshore rebuilts are made from parts not good enough to get in the catalog, by guys whose last job description was field coolie.
Since it's in the SBC family I can only guess you got an early style Chevy starter pre 58' I think before the went to the horizontal bolts. Then to confuse you even more there's one for 158 tooth flywheel and 168 tooth flywheel and beings its 1999 you need it may be a metric one you need. I bet you wished you never asked now. We've all been there, don't sweat it.
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