Technical Generator or Alternator

I understand the reasoning behind why one would chose one over the other but what are you using? HRP

 

I've used both and it depends on the car.

I like the chevy alternator with the built in regulator and it's on my coupe.

 

Alternator. One wire.

Ben

 

Use both. Just converted one from Alternator back to generator. So 4 out of 9 vehicles are on generators.

We won WWII using generators.

 

Generator. To me without a hood it just looks right.

 

I know it doesn’t look right on a flathead, but the alternator works great, even with the lights on.

And it gives me room for more carbs, should I decide to do that.

 

Yes, yes it would. HRP

 

Used a PowerGen on the flattie in the 32.

 

12V Gen on the flatty in my '30
Chappy

20180503_214527 by Chappy444 posted May 3, 2018 at 9:46 PM

 

I'm at a bit of a conflict within on this at the moment. My generator that I had chromed just went up in smoke. It cost more for the chrome than if I had just got a chrome 1 wire alternator. The repair bill for that generator will probably exceed the cost of an alternator too, and not put out the power of an alternator. Common sense and hot rods are mutually exclusive.

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If I rewire everything and convert to 12 volts then I usually go with an alternator because I think its simpler and easier, but on my 1948 coupe I am keeping the generator, a flathead just doesn't look right with an alternator.

 

Proudly behind the times with a 12V generator...goes with Bias Plys...

 

Gen on the original 265. Never had a reason to swap it out.

 

Half the fun is just tweaking "civilians". Yes, alternators replaced generators for some very good reasons. But they still do the job. Someone looking at the engine:

Them: "You know, you really need to get rid of that."
Me: "Get rid of what?"
Them: "That Generator."
Me: "I do?! Why?"
Them: "Because they aren't any good."
Me: "What do you mean they aren't any good? It works fine."
Them: "They aren't reliable"
Me: "Well it's worked for 60 years, how reliable does it need to be?..." etc..

Yes they do require brush changes and attention to detail, filing regulator points etc.

 

Generator

 

56 Buick, 322 Nailhead - Generator
38 Chevy, 327 SBC - Alternator

 

On 12 volt GM vehicles, the Delco generator from Buick & Cad with bearings on both ends, along with the D-R regulator that matches. With sealed bearings, I have yet to burn one down.

 

It depends a lot on the car, the total engine compartment and then, where you plan to show it and or how far and how often you intend to drive it. If the car is a trailer Queen, never gets driven far enough from home to have to spend a night on the road headed to an event of you can't live with it being any other way a generator is fine but be prepared to start another Hamb " I'm stuck on the road with a burned out generator and can't find one or anyone to fix it". thread. With an alternator it's a stop at the first parts house or wrecking yard or Hambers shopshelf and go again and not be more than an hour or so late. One of mine gets the generator because it has to have one but it will never I over 300 miles from home under its own power. Is not for long trips. The truck gets an alternator because it will see a lot of long road trips over some real lonely roads. That alternator is so far down beside the engine you can't see it without leaning over the fender anyhow.

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I use the GM alternators on most everything.

 

Depends on the car imho, if its in a hotrod I say generator

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I have a 12 volt alternator on the '56 New Yorker, a 6 volt alternator on the '37 Buick, and a 12 volt alternator on the '52 John Deere. All Delco 10SI, and all wired the way they were designed to be.

I also use a 120/240 volt alternator to run our house when the power goes out.

 

I usually run the generator until 1) - the generator dies or 2)- I convert to 12 volts. If the car had an alternator in it when I bought it, it stays. I use the Down Under version of the generic GM 2 wire alternator, found on early 80's cars,
cheap, (less than 20 bux at a swap meet),plenty of capacity (35 Amps), and the regulator can be changed without taking the alternator out of the car.

 

I used a gen,in 1959 an up tell just a few years ago*. Frankly in 63 when my Dad got a Valint/slant 6 with a really neat little finned alum Alt. in it,WOW I thought how cool it'd be too polish up one of those an add to my 28 roadster hotrod ! So here is were I admitt I never found one I could get. I did go to a ALT. just a few years ago,for better starts an recharge. My son got me a chrome one wire ALT. like the one I got him,for his T-bucket.

 

I use the common internally regulated GM alternator on everything, Fords and GM's. Easy to find everywhere.

 

If you are like me and only have lights, heater and keys, then a generator is fine.

 

GM alternator on my 35 (Down low and hidden) and a Powergen on the 46 Olds (Up high and visible for all to see), and above my X1 intake.

 

I ran a generator on an old vette because it had a tack drive on it. On my HEMI, i wanted the look of a generator, but i realized it would block most of the cool valve cover so i hid a small alt down low out of sight.

 

last generator I had was in 1976 to 1980 on my Chevy 261 six. 12 volts though. my 1965 Datsun may have had a generator as well... I don't remember.
if I bought a running old car with a working generator I would probably leave it
if I were doing a car from scratch the only thing I might have a generator on would be a flathead.. even then I'd probably have a generator looking alternator.

EDIT: I'm glad other people go through all that bother, because all the correct old stuff on a old school car looks better.