Triumph/TR3A Projects:Generator to Alternator Conversion

I spent ages trying to find a way to replace my generator with an alternator. Many had suggested the workhorse Delco 10SI or 12SI series, they're cheap and easy to come by, but all the notes I saw about them discussed engine mods, which I wasn't interested in. (The Delco is also a "7127 AC Delco" alternator, and was used on a plethora of GM vehicles, you can find it at Kragen, Napa, etc.. for around $50)

I bought a 10SI and it seemed like the alternator body was too wide for me to be able to tighten the belt, and unfortunately most alternators are the same 5.25" width. I discovered the CS-121/CS-131 which were SI series replacements from GM. (SI is for "systems integrated" due to the fact that these were some of the first alternators to have an internal regulator, and CS is for "charging systems"). The 121 and 131 were the width of the stator (alternator body) in mm, making the CS-121 is about .5" thinner than the SI series alternators, but I wasn't sure of how well it would mount, and the alternators are harder to find since the few vehicles that used a CS-121 can take a CS-131 as well, so the auto shops only stock the 131. I tracked one down at an industrial alternator shop for around $200.

In the end, it didn't matter, because just as I was about to buy I found a company that sells an alternator conversion kit. They use a 10SI which supposedly has some simple case modifications (though I didn't notice any when I looked at it), and it fits and works fine, cranking out over 90A. Because of the high current, they recommend wiring direct to the battery which means your ammeter will only read discharge, but your charging light still works since it is on the field circuit. And presuming the regulator works fine, you can just look at the ammeter as a reading of how much power the car is using. Since the conversion requires a negative ground, you need to do the very simple ground conversion (see 2003/12/03 in the maintenance history), and if you don't flip the ammeter nodes, then this will just read positive anyways.

The shop I bought it from seems to have disappeared:

Power British
http://www.pond.com/~britcars/
Phone: 610-270-0505
I think the important part of the kit is a new belt, the proper pulley and spacers to push the alternator forward.

Old Album
7 images
The kit from Power British.
Includes a 3/4"x38-1/2" belt (19mm-980mm) - Specifically "Gates TR24379 Replaces (308) Green Stripe II"
This "U" mounting plate is removed
(but put the bolts back in so the engine doesn't leak (more) oil!)
Alternator mounted.
I had to pull the manifolds because I was replacing a head gasket, but I would recommend doing it anyways.
From the back
Showing the spacers on the adjustment arm.
I have since moved the alternator forward because it wasn't in line, and it was causing the belt to wear down and eventually broke the pulley. Hopefully I'll get some photos up soon, but you can eyeball it pretty easily, I'm surprised I didn't notice the misalignment when I first set it up (I think the directions were wrong on the conversion).
What happens to the engine pulley
if you don't space the alternator properly.

For fan belt replacements:

I'm using: Gates TR24379. These may work:

Delco 24380

Goodyear 24377

The Delco is a 38" belt and the Gates is a 38.5" belt. Don't know about Goodyear 24377.

Photo album generated by album a tool by David on Thu Mar 13 00:35:07 2008