I hope all goes well on the bell swap. It just makes sense that it needs to be on your truck.

 

That would be fantastic to get the bell swapped out to the original. I'll keep my fingers crossed.


Bobby

 

More issues with the truck. A few weeks ago I got the truck and brought it to my house planning to drive my son to school for his 13th birthday. Well she died as I was backing into my driveway and wouldn't start with the battery so my neighbor jump started me. I immediately drove her back to the warehouse and later I checked the battery and saw it was 6 years old. With a new battery installed she started right up but the engine idle semed lower than usual. When we put in the electronic ignition we never set the timing as the directions state. So a buddy came out with his timing light and the timing setting was correct. We bumped the idle up a bit. For some reason I asked him to put a meter on the generation and there was no output. We jumped it from the battery connection on the regulator and it came to life meaning the voltage regulator was bad. I got a new one, polorized it and the generator and its still not working. I'm going to pull it and bring it to the shop that worked on it 7 years ago and see what they can find. One of these days I going to buy one of those alternators in a generator case and be done with the old technology. My siren runs off a pulley on the generator so I can just stick an alternator in its place. I was supposed to do a big parade/motorcycle run tomorrow but thats out now.

A little update on the Buick. We pulled the motor on Thursday and I brought it up to Spring Hill Florida yesterday and dropped it off at an engine builder who knows Buick engines. I should have it back it a few weeks. He is going to break the motor in for me and put it on his Dyno. He estimates it will be a litle over 400 HP.

Thought I'd post one of the professional photos on the truck that he has on Facebook

 

Good progress for you Keith. Good luck with the Buick

 

Yeah Keith. You need to update your thread more often with pictures. That is such a beautiful truck.

 

That's a great pic Keith!
Bummer on the generator, but you'll get it figured out


From the sounds of it the Buick will be up and running in no time.


Bobby

 

Thanks guys! Its always something with these all vehicles!

 

I removed the generator and regulator yesterday and took them to the electrical shop. This is the same company I brought the generator to around 7 years ago. They put it on the bench and under load it put out 90 amps which they said was a lot of amps for a generator. They said my newly purchased regulator's points were burnt so they filed, adjusted and got it working again. They said it is only a 5 amp regulator and I really need a 10 amp which they don't make. When I put on the new regulator I did not read the instructions which state the regulator has to be polorized. This is why the point were burnt? I did do it eventually but the generator still did not work. The shop stated the regulator got hot which I also noticed. They said the regulator may last for a while. I would like to get this system for the truck :GenerNator high amp classic car alternator built inside generator
I called the guy a year or 2 ago and it was around $600 for the conversion.

Last weekend was that motorcycle run that I wanted to put the truck in but didn't because of the generator issue. Well some guys from my fire truck club did and unfortunately one members truck caught on fire during the run. His R rear brakes locked up. Thankfully a modern fire truck was 2 places behind them and got water on it prety quick. He ended up have it towed to his house and he got the brakes broke free. What a bummer! Its an open cab 53 ALF.

 

Keith,


So, your generator is putting out 90 amps? That seems like an awful lot. I think I'd look for a lower amperage generator before dropping $600 for some conversion.


That's a heartbreaking tale about the fire truck in the parade....ugh. Very fortunate that a "ready for action" truck was close by in the parade.


Bobby

 

Hi Keith, I watched that clip on the GenerNator and found it very interesting. It seems like it would be a nice addition for anyone trying to keep there truck as close to stock as possible but wanting a stable electrical output. To bad about your buddy's brake fire, I hope it didn't do to much damage especially to that beautiful paint . Anyway I enjoy when you post so I just thought Id stop by and say hello. 400 hp on the Buick, cool.

 

I do know that for 53-56 trucks one could buy a higher output generator usually on bigger trucks and trucks with a lot electrical equipment and lights, like a fire truck. Now I do not know if the larger Genny put out 90 amps. I would have to run upstairs and look in my literature..... will report back.

 

Bobby, I'd like to keep the original generator especially since it has a double pulley weldeded on it which operates the siren. I guess I could have it rebuilt with lower amperage. In the meanwhile I will keep looking for an different regulator. I tried calling the guy who does the alternators to see if he knows of a regulator that would work. There must be something out there that will work!

 

Thanks Jim. Its nice to hear from you. I hope you are well! Luckly, my buddy's paint was not damaged at all. Waiting on the call from the engine builder. He's had it a week now and said it would be a few weeks.

 

Let me know what you find out Abe. Maybe I could use a regulator like the ones used during those years?

 

Keith,
It does make sense that the bigger trucks, especially a fire truck, would have a higher output generator. I just never imagined it would be 90 amps.


Like everything else, you'll get it figured out. And as an added bonus, the rest of us will learn something from you


Bobby