I have a lead on the alternator from a '98 Windstar, is it a 3G, and will it fit an IDI ? I would take all the wiring harness etc that I can as well.
($35). I have about a 45 minute drive to get to it though.

 

I have no idea. Maybe you can get him to Email you a photo?

The Windstar most likely has an internal regulator, but that could probably be adapted.

 

The 3G alternators can be adapted to the old wiring harness. Look a couple pages back for my thread on NEED ELECTRICAL EXPERTISE. M.L.S.C sent me a wiring diagram that is used for the mustang conversion but all the wire colors are the same. As for the alt. itself it depends on the mounting holes. Don't see why it wouldn't fit, just some shims and maybe grinding to get perfect fit. I have a chevy single wire alt. that is self-excited running on mine. I switched to that one because I kept having issues with volt. reg. blowing and going through alts. So I just ground the bracket for the bottom bolt a little and drilled the bottom hole on the alt out a bit and it bolted right up. Have had it on the truck for 4 yrs. without a problem til it went out like two weeks ago. I'm putting the 3G alt. on mine soon but its from a 94 IDI. I'm installing that with all the rest of the setup to convert it to serpentine belt.

And now I gladly step off this long soapbox session.

 

'98 Windstars came with 3.0 and 3.8 liter V6 engines, neither of those has an alternator that will bolt up to your '88 IDI brackets.