Im having problems with my current alternator in my 79 F150 w/ a swapped 390 motor and am seriously thinking about converting to a one wire set up. Summit racing seems to carry alternators for ford, are these compatable? Do I run the hot line from the alternator to the battery or to the positive side of the starter solenoid?

Also, how would I go about making my alternator light come on with a one wire set up?

Thanks for your help

 

You can run the hot wire to the solenoid + terminal or the battery + terminal, electrically they are the same thing.

One wire alternators are ok if you have a show vehicle and want a really clean look under the hood. Otherwise, they have no advantages, except people who are afraid of wiring like the idea of "one wire". I believe some of the aftermarket one wire alt's may have a option to run the dash light, but then you have "two wires" running to the alternator. And if the one wire alt goes bad out on the road, what to do then?

I have put GM alternators on Fords, farm tractors, etc. and they work well and are available at the parts stores. They can be hooked up with two wires, plus a small jumper wire.

The original Ford units with the external reg are not bad either. What is your problem and what have done to fix it?

 

Well It all started when I noticed my battery was starting to lose charge while driving, so I figured the stock alt was bad and replaced it. Still not charging so I replaced the voltage regulator, still not charging so now Im thinking maybe the alt I got from advance auto was bad ( I hear this happens alot ) so Im gonna take it in as soon as I get the chance and have the alt tested.

 

if it was mine, i would go to your local junkyard and pick up a new ford alternator. do a quick search on "3g alternator swap" and you'll find plenty of info. look in ford taurus's from the mid-90s. grab the end of the wire harness with it so you have the right plug. some of the minivans had them too. wiring is as simple as can be. one wire to the idiot light, other small wire to battery +, and of course the big wire.
last one i did on a 390 was a late night deal, and required cutting a little tab off the back of the alternator (harmless), and had a little trouble finding a pulley that fit perfectly.
i had a thread about that in this section several months ago, i did a pretty thorough write up

 

Make sure you have battery voltage on the alternator battery terminal with the engine not running. If you changed this out with the battery connected, it's a good chance that you blew out the fusible link located in the output wire if you do not have voltage at the alternator on this wire with the engine off.