Keith, this is what I found out from my 1955 Ford Dealer Truck Handbook.
I will list the standard generator for each series and then the optional equipment through production.

Series, ************** Standard, ***********************Optional
F-100 ------------------------ 35 amp, 250 watt --------------------- 40 amp, low cut-in; 50 amp; 60 amp
F-250 ----------------------- same as above ---------------------------- same as above
F-350 ------------------------ same as above ---------------------------- same as above
F-500 ------------------------ same as above --------------------------- same as above
F-600 ------------------------ same as above ---------------------------- same as above
F-700 ----------------------- same as above -------------------------------- 50 amp; 60 amp
F-750 ----------------------- 50 amp, 355 watt ------------------------------ 60 amp
F-800 ------------------------ Same as F-750 -------------------------------60 amp
F-900 ------------------------ Same as F-750 -------------------------------- 60 amp

now remember this is from 1955, but I would think that the same would have held true in the 48-52 trucks or something similar.

so should a 60 amp genny, if that is what you have, put out 90 amps?

 

Thanks Bobby!

And thanks to you Abe for your information.

I heard from the alternator guy in Oregon and he finds it hard to believe its putting out 90amps. He gave me a few questions to ask the local alternator company so he can figure out what kind of regulator to get me. Waiting on a call from the shop.

 

Keith,


Yea, 90amps is pretty high. Now-a-days 100+ amp alternators are the norm but it was rare to get anything over about 50amps until the late 1980's early 90's or so.


Bobby

 

Bobby,

I spoke to the local shop and got the answers to the questions from the Generator guy. He said due to my answers it looks like my generator has 6 volt fields in and with the truck converted to 12 volts it is burning up my regulators. He is surprised my generator has not burned up. I was told 7 years ago (from the same local shop) that it had been converted to 12 volts. He also mentioned in his 45 years of working on generators he has not seen a case like mine. He wants some measurements and asked if I could take of the rear cover and take a couple of pics and send to him. I got the prices wrong. For the generator/alternator conversion its $895 (3 year warrantee)... to rebuild mine to 12 volts $595 (2 year). 30 day turn around time too.
I really think I have been running off my battery for years. I have to think about what I am going to do.

 

Siren pulley

 

Possible thought Keith. Could the extra strain from the siren be causing some difficulty ? I know you want to keep it stock, but I put a 65 Amp alternator on mine. No charging issues, Every thing appears to be good at this time

 

Do I understand that he wants $895 to convert your generator into an alternator?

 

Jim,
The siren has no current draw from the generator. It runs off a fan belt/pulley on the generator. I can't just put a alternator on unless I used a double pulley system like it currently has to run the siren.

 

Joe, yes that is the price! Not cheap!

 

I asked a business about doing that and his price was about the same for my generator. That's crazy. Needless to say I still have my generator.

 

Dang, that's a lot of money to spend.
How much does a replacement 12v generator cost? Since you don't run your truck a lot with heavy electrical loads I think I'd just go with a regular output 12v generator replacement. Maybe for days where you do parades and run all the lights you could add an additional deep cycle battery as a backup or something


Bobby

 

Bobby,

I started looking for a replacement and found something like this:
Powergen 1949-53 Flathead Ford One Wire Alternator, 12 Volt - Free Shipping @ Speedway Motors


They are not cheap either plus I still need to figure out how to add another pulley to keep the siren,

 

What bobbytnm said. There should be many 12V generators out there. These 12 V generators were available with different pulley configurations. High end cars like T birds with AC had high output generators, 1958 thru 1962. These, I am familiar with. I would SWAG the high end Ford line, Mercury, Lincoln, had these high output generators.

 

Ray, The AC cars had double pulleys on their generators? I am going to do some more research thanks.

 

Keith,
I'm not too familiar with the older generators. I haven't worked on one in about 20 years or so.
Can't the double pulley set up be swapped off of the old generator onto the new? or is the shaft not long enough?


Ray had a great idea about searching the higher end cars like the Lincolns, etc


Bobby