So the 40 had charging problems since I got it running 2 years ago. When the merc flattie fried on the way to the Asphalt Invite last year, I realized that the Optima Deep Cycle yellow top could power it all the way to san jose! For some reason the car didn't like generators (12v), I had cheesily rebuilt 2 myself, and they worked for a bit, and even paid the local rebuilder to rewire it, the biggest waste of money i'd done in a while. For some reason i've got good luck with 6v but not 12v. So after driving it for months just on the juice of the deep cycle battery, decided upon using an early MOPAR alternator. Changing the intake to an early fenton dual also helped the decision, since a side mount generator bracket would've been needed anyway. TP
The early 60's alternators use the mechanical regulator and have more radial fins then the later ones. The other cool thing is they're less than $40 at Kragen with a lifetime warranty! After way too much thinking, Came up with this. It is adjustable on the stockish generator slider too. The trickies thing was the belt pulley. There is the early style wide belt on the 40, so had to modify the pulley on the alternator. I bought the double belt version, and wish i'd taken some pics to show you cause it was real sketchy. At the time there was no lathe handy, so the alternator was taped up so no shavings would get in it, and I ground out the middle groove riser part. Then cut the thing in half, and welded it back together with the proper gap. It really should have fried the inside, but I took small steps to keep the heat down. It worked though, and decided not to post this until I got some miles on it just to make sure! The funny thing is I'd never measured the depth of the alternator, and was relieved when it fit almost perfectly, centered in the space provided. There is no more than 3/32 between the carb and the alternator! The wiring is so easy too. There's just 2 wires and it charges great! TP
Thanks PETEJOE! the fakey generator/alternators are cool but not for $350, plus if you it breaks down somewhere random who has one to replace it that day/week? I usually try to keep my cars in an era and this one breaks 1965 but thats older than me so! TP
Those alternators came out on Chrysler stuff in 1960. An oldtimer auto electrician told me they were the most reliable of all alternators because all their fins and large open areas help keep them cool and alternators do not like being hot. This is probably why lots of folks have had problems with the look-like-a-generator type ones as they have very poor air circulation due to the generator design. swifty
Hey look up partsamerica.com , its the kragen website. there might be another branch in your area. Than just look up '67 dodge alternator, there are different amperages. Any auto store should have em but that website is really easy to use. (at least you can get the part # and an idea of the cost) TP Thanks guys for the props!
If one were building an early 60s period car, would one of these be "correct"? Did hot rodders use these, or were they consided too "new fangled"?
These alternators where used in Mopars from '60/61 untill, I dunno, somewhere late 70's I think. In 1972 these alternators were updated and started using a different regulator since then. These 'newer-style' alternators are also known as 'dual field'-alts, although '68 and newer also used dualfield-circuitry. Low-rpm charging is improved with these alternators. The newer-style alt's are readily recognisable by the large squarish cast housing on the back.
Yes someone posted a pic of a chrome one on here recently. I assume when you say the "pretty" one that you mean the early one without that ugly square box on the back? swifty
A lot of the newer MoPars and Mitsubishis, etc come with lookalike alternators that are smaller, turn easier, and use less HP to run. But they're SO close in fact, that I've seen them on a lot of muscle cars. There may be one on a Jeep Cherokee at the local boneyard - check it out! FYI. ~Jason
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