So I mounted up the E30 318 alternator last night - was a bit more work than I expected.

I had to use the E30 mount plate, as the newer alt is wider by a little bit.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h43/greggearhead/100_4825.jpg


Then, the tensioning bracket wouldn't come anywhere CLOSE to lining up. The old one would have had to be bent about 1", and being 3/8" steel, that wasn't gonna happen without firing up the torch, etc. It was late, and I thought I could make the new one work better. So I re-bent it and used a spacer to get it out to the correct dimensions. Fine. Everything lined up, but then the tensioner bracket rubbed the belt. The spacer that keeps that bracket from touching the alt fan blades was pushing it too far out. A little grinding and it is fine. Its close, but not bad. I think a touch more grinding and it will be perfect. Nice to have more amps.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h43/greggearhead/100_4826.jpg


No more power from this mod, but now I can go with an electric fan, etc and not worry about it. Or run the wipers, blower fan, lights, and stereo at night and not have to keep one eye on the voltmeter, etc.

Now I need to upgrade the grounding straps.

No more power from this mod, but now I can go with an electric fan, etc and not worry about it. Or run the wipers, blower fan, lights, and stereo at night and not have to keep one eye on the voltmeter, etc.

Now I need to upgrade the grounding straps.

I have a friend that makes a gread HD replacement ground strap- he is in my local E21 group. Let me know and I'll put you in touch with him.

I recently had my stock alt rebuilt locally. He put a cheap regulator in it and it was only pumping out 13.3V or so!:confused I was pissed and took it back in. He put on at no charge a more expensive adjustable regulator. As it ages, you can adjust it up back to good ol 14.4V. Or in my case, 14.7 since my battery is in the trunk and the cable isnt as big as it could be; I see 14.2V at the battery at idle. All accessories on, it doesnt go below 13V now!

John

So I mounted up the E30 318 alternator last night - was a bit more work than I expected.

I had to use the E30 mount plate, as the newer alt is wider by a little bit.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h43/greggearhead/100_4825.jpg


Then, the tensioning bracket wouldn't come anywhere CLOSE to lining up. The old one would have had to be bent about 1", and being 3/8" steel, that wasn't gonna happen without firing up the torch, etc. It was late, and I thought I could make the new one work better. So I re-bent it and used a spacer to get it out to the correct dimensions. Fine. Everything lined up, but then the tensioner bracket rubbed the belt. The spacer that keeps that bracket from touching the alt fan blades was pushing it too far out. A little grinding and it is fine. Its close, but not bad. I think a touch more grinding and it will be perfect. Nice to have more amps.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h43/greggearhead/100_4826.jpg


No more power from this mod, but now I can go with an electric fan, etc and not worry about it. Or run the wipers, blower fan, lights, and stereo at night and not have to keep one eye on the voltmeter, etc.

Now I need to upgrade the grounding straps.

I had to replace my alternator and battery a few weeks ago because it was charging at almost 16 volts.:eek: Now I don't have to watch how much I have on at one time. ( like you.)

Most of the time when the alt overcharges, its the voltage regulator on the back that goes bad. Easy fix- you may not have need a new alternator though:( I hope the overcharging didnt spray acid all over your nice new paint job! It tends to do that and also wreck the fuse box cover...

John

Most of the time when the alt overcharges, its the voltage regulator on the back that goes bad. Easy fix- you may not have need a new alternator though:( I hope the overcharging didnt spray acid all over your nice new paint job! It tends to do that and also wreck the fuse box cover...

John

time for an optima?

Most of the time when the alt overcharges, its the voltage regulator on the back that goes bad. Easy fix- you may not have need a new alternator though:( I hope the overcharging didnt spray acid all over your nice new paint job! It tends to do that and also wreck the fuse box cover...

John

No, I found out in time to aviod that. The alternator was 110.00 and a regulator 250.00.:rolleyes

No, I found out in time to aviod that. The alternator was 110.00 and a regulator 250.00.:rolleyes

Is that a joke? If so Im dense today. A regulator is $12 for cheapies, $30 or so for a Bosch replacement, and some priced in between...

John

time for an optima?

It's always time for an optima!

John

No, I found out in time to aviod that. The alternator was 110.00 and a regulator 250.00.:rolleyes

I highly dought thers are regulators that cost that. I got my 90amp alt for $30 and a new Bosch regulator for $30.

You learned the hard way no dought, but im sure you like it that way

I highly dought thers are regulators that cost that. I got my 90amp alt for $30 and a new Bosch regulator for $30.

You learned the hard way no dought, but im sure you like it that way

It was at Checker.

UPDATE:

Since I did the alt install in the dark (all my garage bays were full so I am to blame), I didn't realize a couple things.
1. The alternator wasn't perfectly aligned with the w/pump and crank. About 1/4" backspaced.
2. The tensioner bracket I modded in a hurry to get the car on the road for the next day - really was too thin to bend and rebend, ESPECIALLY where it had a large hole.

Hello metal fatigue. It fractured completely through. Luckily, I could just prop the alt back up on the broken piece and drove it like that so I wasn't stranded or anything, but today, I looked at it more thoroughly and fixed it like I should have the first time.

Reoriented the metal sleeves in the poly bushes so that they protruded correctly to allow the alt to line up with the pulleys. Also, allowed me to use a completely straight, 3/8" thick steel alt tensioner bracket from a VW I had lying around. Works absolutely perfectly.

Lesson to be learned - don't hurry your mods.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h43/greggearhead/100_4844.jpg

New, thicker bracket.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h43/greggearhead/100_4846.jpg