I'm sure this is probably common knowledge to most of you guys, but I thought I'd share/document my first real upgrade to my 1949 F-1. I didn't feel like the generator was putting out a very adequate charge and I wanted to clean up the engine bay a little bit, removing the voltage regulator and respective wires. So I decided to make the jump to a GM 1-wire alternator.

The (small) problem is that my flathead V8 is of the wide pulley (5/8"), two belt variety. Almost all alternator conversion brackets that I found required you to grind off part of the alternator and a mounting spacer in order for the belt to line up properly. Why grind down perfectly good, brand-new parts, right?

Enter the Alan Grove bracket, model 242. It's made specifically for our wide-belt systems without any modifications. I also purchased a 5/8" pulley from Speedway Motors. Lastly, I picked up an alternator from JEGS. All told, the parts came right to $200 with shipping.

Installation was a breeze. Swapping the pulleys was made easy by using an impact wrench. Replacing the generator with the alternator was straight-forward. Just a little tight with the fan still in place.

The parts:



The alternator and bracket assembled:



Installed (disregard the fan not being hooked up - the belt fell apart and I had to order a new one):

 

Good info! Were you already 12v, or is it a 6v alternator?

 

The PO did a basic 12 volt conversion. Basically, I think he put in a 12 volt battery and then disconnected all the gauges. I think he might have swapped the light bulbs, as the taillights seem to work fine. I'm not sure if he ever changed or modified the regulator for 12 volts.

I was considering using voltage reducers and hooking the original gauges, but I just snapped a post off the ammeter. Not quite sure what I'll do about that. I see new ones are available on ebay, but each gauge is about $84 (including S&H) - ouch! I might just go with aftermarket gauges... we'll see

 

I've seen stock ammeters as low as $5 used on eBay, and NOS new for less than $84. Not sure what you mean by "one of the posts" on the ammeter, it has a loop?

 

The stock gauges will work if you swap wires from post to post and add a constant voltage regulator from a later ford with 3 gauges like a mustang. The aftermarket has electronic ones that people seem to like. The P series trucks (70"s UPS) had the same gauges with different graphics and I have swapped them. Up into about 1987 Ford still used a regulated (CVR) gauges that operated on about 6 volts. The reason for the post to post swap is going from 6 volt positive ground to 12 volt negative ground.
Instrument Voltage Regulator This gives you an idea but over my head. They have them built on the bay or elsewhere.