the 3g alternator swap

[5.0Flareside]

ok so i know what vehicle i need the alternator from. but i need to know if its a direct swap. cause my alternator took the dive tonight on the way home from work. and im gonna go ahead and do the swap hopefully tommorrow. if its more difficult then pluging in and unplugging then im just gonna go with a 95 amp instead.

 

[Skandocious]

Well first off-- there are 3 different styles of 3G alternators:

http://rjminjectiontech.com/?p=6

My guess is that you do not have the 8.25" pivot mount, since that one seems to be fairly uncommon. If you've got a side mount, then get it from a 7.3L PSD or an explorer. If you've got the 7" pivot mount, then get it from a taurus with a 3.8L. Just make sure the case diameter is the correct size-- the 130amp is considerably larger than the 95amp. Here's Chrono's comparison shot from his writeup:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y7...rnator Files/130GAlternator019_Comparison.jpg


I got mine from the junkyard and skimmed the rest of the alternators for the voltage regulator with the most meat left on the brushes. You can see the brush in the diagram below-- it's the little rectangular thing sticking out the bottom with a hole in it:

If you can find one that still has the holes (not worn down past the holes) then it's fairly new and you should nab it. I also replaced the bearings in my junkyard alternator:

http://rjminjectiontech.com/?p=7



Good luck!

 

[5.0Flareside]

ok so its a little more complicated then just pluging in? i had asked this on the write up but nobody said so. so i guess i'll just be going back to the 95 amp. mainly cause i have a 65 amp on there now cause thats all the local yard had and i needed one badly and didnt have the money for a new one a few months ago. oh well this is the 2nd alternator this trucks been threw with me. 6th in the past 4 years. its gotta be a wiring problem. probably happened when the motor was swapped in.

 

[Skandocious]

To answer you're bolt-on question: the alternator is a complete bolt on swap. That being said-- your current charge cable is not heavy enough to handle the extra load so you'll need to buy a larger charge cable. RJM sells a kit for just exactly this purpose. I purchased their kit and the quality is A++.

It's the 4th item down:
http://rjminjectiontech.com/?p=7

You just specify the length that you want and they'll make it for you.

 

[5.0Flareside]

ok. well i might just grab one of each if i can find the 130 amp and swap it whenever i feel like ordering one of the charge cables.