Ok so I read the stuff in hio's hyperlink thingy on the 3g swap. Now, my buddy owes me some stuff and he has multiple new alternators for a mass array of projects. Ranging from 130 amp -200 amp ones. Which should I go with if its free? Most are from summit. He says if he doesn't have it he will order whichever I want. So....

1) Which one from summit would be my best bet if I could have any of them? And do I want a internally regulated one?
http://www.summitracing.com/search/p...engine-type/v8

2) Do I need one that is one wire capable?

3) Id like my alt gauge in the cluster and my aftermarket one under the dash to work.

4) I remember seeing somewhere that someone makes a new external regulated box that works with internally regulated alts to make the stock system work?



EDIT: My truck has more electrical crud then ud imaging if that makes a difference

 

If money is no object then this one http://www.summitracing.com/parts/du...view/make/ford

If you are going to keep the single v belt that will limit the amount of amps you can produce with out the belt slipping.

 

I think you should evaluate your needs first and foremost. More amps doesn't mean you get more amps, it just means the alternator is capable of generating the output if called upon. Read this post in full: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post13427861

Internally regulated alternators, in general, are superior as they exhibit faster transient response.

That's a personal choice. Again, refer to my link.

The factory ammeter in your dash will never work. It's a shunt-style ammeter with extremely coarse resolution; it didn't do much from day one. Are you sure the aftermarket gauge under the dash is not a voltmeter? If it's a voltmeter, it's not going to care what alternator you have. If it's an ammeter, it can still be made to work, but you're much better served using a voltmeter.

That makes no sense. An alternator needs one regulator. The regulator used to be external to the alternator, sat on the inner fender, and ran long wires to the alternator to close the control loop. Once regulators became electronic (and smaller), they could be moved internal to the regulator, which is ultimately a much better design. If you have an internally regulated alternator, there is no external box that goes outside. They're all 12-volt systems, there's nothing about the "stock system" that understands the difference between what kind of alternator you're using, other than having to change wiring as necessary to accommodate the connections of the alternator.

I don't understand what that means.

 

Like fmc400 said, a higher output alternator doesn't necessarily equal "better". If your truck has just the normal electrical loads then the stock alternator will be fine. While an internally regulated unit would be an improvement/upgrade, this would require some rewiring.
X2 on the stock ammeter. These were a poorly designed POS from the word go. One neat trick I've seen, there is a guy that rebuilds the stock ammeter and converts it to an honest to goodness working voltmeter and it looks factory.https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-of-these.html
If you have winches, lots of off-road lights or a big-a$$ stereo (I'll refrain from comments on that last one ) then you would probably need a high output alternator. If you don't have that stuff then you're paying for excess capacity that you'll never use.
If your electrical draw is 15 amps, all the alternator is going to put out is 15 amps. The fact that it "could" produce 200 amps is irrelevant.

 

Nothing fancy here but I just put a remy 1 wire in my 78 super cab.. after chasing regulators, wires and ground nightmares I said to hell with it, bought a used remy for 15$ and it has been PERFECT so far.. my other ford trucks will get the same swap.. and as a plus, it bolted right in!

 

AAAARRGGHHHH!!!! Wire nuts !!!!!! and no terminal ends .

 

you need to fix that. can't believe you would post a pic of something so downright dangerous.

 

HACK ALERT! - HACK ALERT!

Dwooooop..... Dwooooop

Bong..... Bong.... Bong....

HACK ALERT! - HACK ALERT!

 

Lol, I know I know I know... ill do better I promise lol

 

Sorry Jd, just couldn't resist.
At least your heater hose is made in good ol' USA.

 

Double post oops.....

 

At least something under there is put together right mike lol.. I by all means wasn't trying to hijack guys! Sorry to the OP.. well I learned the hard way this time guys.. I'll be in my corner for a bit..

 

Don't see any hijack, just a display of some "creative" workmanship.
To be honest, I think just about all of us here have some creative workmanship in our past, either out of necessity or lack of knowledge.
Hopefully we're all better now. I know my techniques have grown much better over the years.

 

Hahaha I love this! . And thanks for all the input. When I get home ill read it all over and respond to everything.