If you can get a generator working, and keep it working, and you don't have lots of power robbing accessories, then the generator is the way to go!
On one of my planned model as I'm actually planning to run a generator on one since I have a working generator from a 57 Chevy and that Ford won't get driven often
It's ok with me. Millions of cars worked fine on generators for many years. You should be aware not to tighten the belt too much, the plain bearings won't take it. Don't forget to oil the bearings at oil change time. Also the gen does not charge well at idle, it does better when it revs up a bit.
Jim pretty well nailed it in post 2. NO power robbing electrical accessories. The big issue with generators has always been that they don't charge at and idle or at low speed, they like to be runninng between 20 and 60 mph down the road to put out a decent charge. Back in the day that was the big issue with generators, no or a very weak charge at an idle or low crawl in bumper to bumper traffic speeds. At night with headlights and heater on people had their batteries drain down to the point that there wasn't enough charge to start the car if you shut it off for a few minutes. The big problem with a generator if you plan to actually drive the car any distance on a regular basis is if it ****s out there are no readily available replacements at regular parts houses. We used to have a half dozen posts a year from guys who were driving a 50's early 60's rust bucket who were stuck in some little berg 400 miles away from home while on their way to a big rod trot. The "my generator quit, parts houses within 50 miles don't have one and I can't get one UPS red lable until Tuesday what do I do?" The simple answer would be buy a 1 wire alternator, just disconnect the generator an nothing else, run the power wire from the alternator to the right connection, tape up the generator wire terminals and keep on keepiing on. There lies the real issue, do you want an authentic car that has all of the correct pieces incuding generator to for either bubba factor or just to have it authentic or do you prefer to have it so you can make long cross country trips without being worried about a generator or any other unobtainable part ****ping out and not being able to get a replacement. Delco 10 or 12 Si alternators are available at every legit parts house in the country for a reasonable price. A few minutes wrenching in a parking lot or on the side of the road and go again. . +
Nothing wrong with a generator if you don't have a lot of load, I'm running one on my flathead powered Model A. But all I have is the engine circuits and lights, a friend had a generator on his flathead powered 40 coupe worked great until he put an electric fan on it then it wouldn't keep the battery charged.
Physical Weight - gen is heavier, also requires heavier brackets to support Charging - generator doesn't provide as good an output curve (less low, less overall, RPM limited) Overall Old School Demands - won't as easily adopt to modern accessories or prohibit use Old School Knowledge - requires knowing about regulator polarizing and adjustments, maintenance Tougher Repair/Replacement - the guys that continue to get them into service and keep them going are diminishing daily and good parts are drying up The items under Overall tend toward stuff that is not important to HAMB users and may even be part of the charm. However, you must be aware of these since you are asking why. It's the same as asking why some traditional guys love 3 speed manuals when there are 5 speed conversions.
pretty good summation of the issue. But...the thing about getting it working, and keeping it working, has led me to install alternators in most of mine over the years. 3 speed manual transmissions are pretty easy to keep working, generators not so much.
I consider it mainly a load issue. Many of us want to run Halogen headlight bulbs and modern accessories - which usually require a lot more amps than most generators put out. I had my 34 Ford generator updated by Whitney to add a special alternator core to it - so I have enough amperage for higher power headlights.
After I had a generator come apart on a 61 impala at high RPM 45 years ago I switched to alternators on everything when they needed attention. If you want original look and functionality along with maintenance then keep the original stuff. A regulator alone likely costs more than a Delco alternator these days. Alternators fit in more tighter spots , are lighter , work better . It's up to you if the non original look is something you can live with . Then there is the alternators that look like early generators if you got the money .
and if you're building something period from any time in the 60s, there were alternators around in the HAMB era....and they still work better than generators....
You can but the standard 3 wire are simple enough to hook up, easy to get anywhere in any amp rate you want and you don't have to gun the engine when you start the car to have them kick in and charge. One wire alternators were originally made for Farm tractors with Magnitios or diesel engines that didn't have a real ignition circuit on them. That is where I first saw them before they showed up on street rods. I said one wire in my other comment because of the ease of hooking it up on the side of the road or in a parking lot when you are doing an emergency fix. Once you have it mounted and the belt figured out you just have to make up and connect that one wire for it to work. NO seeing if you can find Mr48Chevs photobucket page where he saved a bunch of wiring diagrams, no searching the net for the the same on your phone or hoping your buddy remembers how 30 years after he hooked up the last one. You have time for those things when you are building the rig and it isn't that hard and the main reason Street rod guys love the one wire thing because it is less wires to hide in their surgically clean engine compartment with no wires showing.
You need to consider that 12 volt generators were made roughly from 1955 to 1965. Just a ten year span. There are a lot more alternators to be had.
Get an alternator that looks like a genny. Best of both worlds - https://www.qualitypowerauto.com/catalog.php?item=545
What kind of issues have you had with them? I've been running a couple of them for awhile and haven't had any issues once they were setup correctly, like anything else. Polarized once and haven't had to do it again even after leaving batteries unhooked for extended periods of time. The 6v generator on my International took some swearing but it had been sitting dormant for 30 years. Just wondering what I might get to look forward to.
I run the generator until it dies (if you're not sick, why go to the doctor?), and then replace them with a standard 2 wire alternator with internal regulator, because they are cheap and they work. I like having a "GEN" light on my dashboard that tells me when I have thrown a belt.
Alternators, cheap, lightweight, reliable very easy to wire in, easy to fit. Downside, they look very out of place on a vintage look motor.
If you're running an early Ford (with a flathead), here is a company that does very high-quality work. I've had a converted generator on my 32 Cabriolet for about 7 years - with a stock 32 fan mounted on the front. Great products, great company - not inexpensive, but you get what you pay for: Cl***ic Automotive - Converting Vintage Automotive Generators to Alternators: E.J. Whitney Company, Inc. - Fullerton California (ejwhitneyco.com)
The Jalopy Journal
