Generator vs. Alternator

Huh? To much HP is almost enough.

 

I like em both and each has its place, they do exactly what they were made to do, make power. Now, I have a buddy who believes that gennys are for fucken.

 

you guys know that they make alternators that look like generators! looks like a genny, but works like a alt! best of both worlds!

 

I run altenators because I would sling the armatures apart on the generators. I switched my 57 back in 73 and have never ran one since. I don't like electric fans and I am presently not running one. I like the simplicity of a manual fan and one wire alt. Seems I had lots of trouble with voltage regulators too. Surely they have improved since I ran them 37 years ago. Altenator gives you better Juice if you are running a non period correct electronic ignition. You would have to run your dist and coil to be compatible with 12 volts. 6 volt lights suck. All your electrics would need to be 12 volt neg. grnd. 6 volt gauges won't work without some extra parts to convert them. I THINK not sure Gens have to run a amp gauge???

 

How would a generator handle halogen head lights?,I have a 37 chevy p/u and running the original style head lights with 12 volts but planning on installing halogen bulbs soon and want to go back with a generator since the truck looks more original then a hotrod. As for someone hitting me sitting at a light it could happen since I have had people say my tail lights are hard to see so to fix that problem I am thinking about LED bulbs.

 

1. Doesn't matter. You have to "flash" the generator to set it's polarity. Do a search on google "how to flash a generator" and you'll find all kinds of info.

2. If the original 6 volt wiring harness is still good (insulation and wiring) then I'd use it. The OE wiring in most 6 volt systems is heavier than what was used in the 12 volt systems. Ohms law, PIE formula, etc.

3. The MSD will be fine with a 12 volt generator, and you can either use the existing 6 volt coil by putting a ballast resistor in series, or you can buy a new coil which may or may not have an internal ballast.

 

Not required, but handy to have.

 

I know it's not required. What I was saying is will a Gen. read on a volt meter? I think it just reads the voltage in the system?? Or do you have to have amp meter to read the current it is making.

 

I built my first smallblock chev in 1965 45 years ago. I put an alternater on it from a 63 chev (a couple of bucks for it and the regulator/ wiring) ran it for the next 14 years with no problems.
For me an alternator is traditional!

 

Lights dim with a generator...bullshit

My daily is a 1970 vw type 3 with factory EFI and GENERATOR. The lights are fine. VW used generators untill mid 73.

oh my god, I'd better convert it right away.....not

 

I have a PowerGen on couple of cars.Works great but a little pricey.It uses all of the same brackets.One could never tell.

 

i'd run the gen, i had the one on my '50 ford rebuilt for 12V and it works great...lights aren't dim or any of that mumbo jumbo...for some reason people think old car parts dont last a long time, i grew up being told the reason the companies switched from 6v to 12v was because it was cheaper because they can run higher gauge wire. also heard the change from generators to alternators was because of cost as well, just like everything else.

 

alternator came out because of the power police cars were using! a gen couldn't keep up with the power demand! radio, lights, and whatever else they needed! look it up! i remember reading about that!

 

I think a '60 Mopar alternator would be cool, but a one wire GM? Yuck.