I'm biased.

 

Any thoughts on the "Mean Green" Alternators and or starters? I'd like to have some backup parts in my arsenal..

 

I'm not familiar with them but they are a recommended upgrade.

 

thats a $400 alternator for our trucks.

 

High quality made in the USA.
What more do you need to know.

Don't support the Chinese, Taiwanese, or Japanese. Support your fellow Pennsylvanians.


On Edit: I only see they have huge alternators, not sure if they have a stock replacement or not, so I don't know if I'd go with a big alt if you don't need it. Would be my starter of choice, though.

 

Note on the old skool pull the neg cables to test the alternator. The battery acts as an electrical cushion to smooth out switching voltages keeping spikes in a reasonable form. To DC the battery under load on a running engine may cause enough of a spike to BBQ anything from your chassis computer to your windshiled wiper delay control, radio, etc.

A charged and running alternator (functioning) will have a huge magnetic field at the rear center bearing of the alternator, metal screwdriver will stick quite handily to it.

This problem sounds like wiring, check all the harness grounds, ground connections near the battery and the ones on the radiator support up top. You can possibly apply the wiggle test when it dies again, with it running, and a volt meter attached to the batteries, start wiggling cables and harnesses and see if you get a voltage increase.

Ford Motorcraft Type 3G Series Large Case Alternator Had a decent deal at the time for HD alternators as well as rebuild parts.