I will be building a T modified with a Stude V8 and it has a generator. With that little of a load, minimal gauges, lights, ignition, is there any reason to switch to an alternator.
No. I'm running the original generattr on my wifes car. It has air ride and has no problems when the compressor is on.
When new cars first came out with radio , heater ,power windows , power seats , and a/c they had generators . You won't even come close to a problem
Im running a 64 ford generator on my 71 305 chevy motor. Why? Because i understand generators, and they've always worked great for me!
Still running a Generator in my T-bird. No problems with it and I have p/w and a p/drivers seat. As long as you have a good battery and a good generator you should have no trouble. Now if you're going to run a "t*******" stereo system...that's a different story.
I run a gen in my 53 chevy with NO problems at all. Only "option" is a cd player. There should be no reason at all it can't be run.
Gens can only make so many amps, for so long that is, before burning up. Constant drain, large drains of say 30 amps or so is the reason alternators were introduced in the auto world. The ability to produce more at a constant rate and longevity, not to mention at a lower rpm, like idle. Sounds like you are not gonna tax that thing hard, you will be doing what the OEM's have done for many many years. Besides, gens look cooler. Enjoy.
Iv'e got a model A with a generator never had a problem some guys say you got to go alt. no way why fix something that ain't broke thats what they ran in the day!
Nothing wrong with a generator. Apparently a generator won't charge a battery well at idle, where an alternator will, but an alternator won't charge a completely dead battery propery where a generator will. That's what I hear any how.
Bumping up an old thread! REALLY thinking about just switching to a 12v generator on my '54! Will I run into any problems if I have a radio, Old Air A/C unit (considering buying one) and bags just for lowering at shows and raising up for driving? I'm not planning on "making it hop", I just don't want to drive on just lowering blocks any more! Thanks for any advice, guys!
Well, switching and running the bag system off a gen is not a problem. You need to find out what your max amp draw will be with the a/c air ride radio etc and see if it exceeds the amp output of the gen. If so i'd run an alt. Also make sure your bulbs, gauges and radio are all switched to 12v units or you will probably let the smoke out of them. My 62 impala is running a stock gen with a cd player, and a complete air ride system with 2 viar380c compressors.. granted with both comp its maxing the gen capacity, but i ran one comp for 2 years without a single issue using the stock gen for power. But no a/c in mine either. Tony
Sitting at a traffic light with the headlights on, air sitting at full blast and cranking the tunes you might see the lights dim, but they brighten right back up when the revs build......Ran them for years.
Mike, that's what I'm after! I have HEI, but switching to small body HEI to look better. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Has anybody ever tried one of those alternator inside a generator housing units that MSD sells? High output with a stock appearance.
With a generator, you can push start a car with a dead battery......With an alternator, that's impossible. 4TTRUK
If the battery has zero juice it is. Alternators require the coils to be energized to function. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
I'd read about Powergens and Ganernators, but I'm NOT paying $300-500 for an alternator! Especially if I have a working 12v generator in my dad's garage! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Generator. Will work fine for your application. And yes, they look *****in'! What I do is bump up the idle speed to 800 RPM or so. That way your headlights won't dim so much.
I'm running a 12 volt Ford generator in my '32. I have an electric fuel pump and electric wiper. Works very well and looks very traditional. Besides I grew up working with generators. Feels like old times.
This is the answer... An alt IS better... so what are you after, looks or operation? I know many original Model A owners who run an alternator.
You agree with me, but I disagree with you (sorry). I wouldn't trade my so-called inferior generators for some anachronistic (out of time/place) alternator stuck on top of my period-correct flathead, or my period-correct SBF. I might tolerate a PowerGen, but for the price they ask, I'll take my chances with old genny. For $5, you can carry a spare set of brushes that swap in in about 5 minutes that will cure about 75% of generator problems on the road. I actually carry a whole spare generator in my trunk box of each of my generator equipped cars.
No need to be sorry -- if you run 12 volts a Delco 10SI alternator is good -- though an original generator does have the look !! http://www.madelectrical.com/electricaltech/delcoremy.shtml And you can carry a spare 10SI in your trunk.
When I was a kid [the day before yesterday], I would take out a generator every second weekend, but I was always red lining the engine if you know what I mean, I switched to an alternator and that gave me more time to work on other stuff. Now I am old er and generators work fine.
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