I have a 1982 F100 with a 300 six. It has a 100 amp alternator and was wondering what it would take to put a 60 amp one in its place. The 100 amp one has different connections on it. Would I have to change some of the wiring other than the connections to change it to a 60 amp? There are plenty of 60 amp alts out there but very few 100 amp ones and they cost a lot more.

 

Your connections on the 100 amp don't bolt on or slip over small threaded studs on the alternator? What color wires do you have going to the alternator now?

 

I have 4 wires that come out of the alternator. It is hard to tell exactly what color the wires are. I looks like one (this one has a plug end on it inside the rectangular housing which plug into the alternator) is orange with either a blue or black strip (goes to the f terminal on the voltage regulator). 2 wires out of the same housing which I think is tan with either a blue or black stripe. One of these wires goes to the choke on the carb. One large black wire with I belive a tan stripe that bolts by its self to the alternator.

The wiring has discolored over time and its difficult to tell for sure what the color is.

When I first got the truck I wanted to put a factory tach in it and had to change a little bit of the wiring that connects to some of the wires that come from the alternator, but I didn't change the wires that actually attach to the alternator.