Not charging
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,550
Likes: 2,034
From: North Texas
Last I bought I THINK was a new 'Pure Energy' brand from Cockauto. That went on my 4.9. Tossed that 70A 2G in trash.
I only has a few hours of idle time and about 2mi of driving. Seems fine.
I only has a few hours of idle time and about 2mi of driving. Seems fine.
Tuned
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 480
Likes: 141
From: NJ
Most of the 2g alternators I've owned, and more than 50% of the ones I get called to work on, have fried their output wiring harness at least once. My F-150 is like the truck of Theseus, with everything from the engine to the driver seats to the fuel tanks either new or from a different truck- around 300,000 on the chassis that I know of- yet, it still has the original 2G alternator and the wiring for it, and it all works perfectly.
My experience with the 2g alternators has been that if the output harness is in good shape, it will tend to stay that way, and if not, when replaced with PROPERLY installed replacements, they actually hold up OK- and of course, are cheaper and easier to find than some oddball 3g alternator for a different application. Properly securing the wire to the alternator bracket goes a long way, as does keeping the engine mounts in good shape- most of the problems seem to stem from fatigue that results when the engine moves and the other end of the wire doesn't.
My experience with the 2g alternators has been that if the output harness is in good shape, it will tend to stay that way, and if not, when replaced with PROPERLY installed replacements, they actually hold up OK- and of course, are cheaper and easier to find than some oddball 3g alternator for a different application. Properly securing the wire to the alternator bracket goes a long way, as does keeping the engine mounts in good shape- most of the problems seem to stem from fatigue that results when the engine moves and the other end of the wire doesn't.
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 1,172
Likes: 114
I’m having a hard time finding just one 1/4” 4 gauge lug. And can’t find a 3/16” 4 gauge lug. The 1/4” is for the solenoid and the 3/16” for the alternator. And I don’t know what size id need for the mega fuse.
https://www.autozone.com/electrical-...use/288532_0_0
this is the fuse. I’ll have to probably buy the fuse before I can figure out what size the lugs need to be but figured I’d ask anyway maybe someone would know. Would I be better off finding the 1/4” lug and the 3/16” lug at the parts store? Whenever I google the 3/16 it shows 3/8 or 5/16 ones and that seems to be what all of them are.
I’m trying to find them individually for like $3 but I can’t seem to find them like that. If I have to buy 3 sizes and get 3 kits it would end up being like $30 for 30 different lugs when I only need 4.
Where should I mount the fuse?
edit:
found this for the 1/4
https://www.autozone.com/batteries-starting-and-charging/battery-cable-and-lug/p/schumacher-1-4in-cable-lug/1042011_0_0?cmpid=LIA:US:EN:AD:NL:1000000:BAC:1948 8533492&&CATARGETID=120054150001289256&CADevice=m& gclid=EAIaIQobChMIp7nxm4ODgQMVUCuzAB0GtgZfEAQYBSAB EgLD7_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
https://www.autozone.com/electrical-...use/288532_0_0
this is the fuse. I’ll have to probably buy the fuse before I can figure out what size the lugs need to be but figured I’d ask anyway maybe someone would know. Would I be better off finding the 1/4” lug and the 3/16” lug at the parts store? Whenever I google the 3/16 it shows 3/8 or 5/16 ones and that seems to be what all of them are.
I’m trying to find them individually for like $3 but I can’t seem to find them like that. If I have to buy 3 sizes and get 3 kits it would end up being like $30 for 30 different lugs when I only need 4.
Where should I mount the fuse?
edit:
found this for the 1/4
https://www.autozone.com/batteries-starting-and-charging/battery-cable-and-lug/p/schumacher-1-4in-cable-lug/1042011_0_0?cmpid=LIA:US:EN:AD:NL:1000000:BAC:1948 8533492&&CATARGETID=120054150001289256&CADevice=m& gclid=EAIaIQobChMIp7nxm4ODgQMVUCuzAB0GtgZfEAQYBSAB EgLD7_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 12,872
Likes: 2,445
…around 300,000 on the chassis that I know of- yet, it still has the original 2G alternator and the wiring for it, and it all works perfectly.
My experience with the 2g alternators has been that if the output harness is in good shape, it will tend to stay that way, and if not, when replaced with PROPERLY installed replacements, they actually hold up OK- and of course, are cheaper and easier to find than some oddball 3g alternator for a different application….
My experience with the 2g alternators has been that if the output harness is in good shape, it will tend to stay that way, and if not, when replaced with PROPERLY installed replacements, they actually hold up OK- and of course, are cheaper and easier to find than some oddball 3g alternator for a different application….
To the OP:
If you haven’t already, do a search for Ford 2G to 3G swap. Select garysgaragemahal.com and start reading. It tells you all about the different models of 3G alternators and the models to get one from. Not only that but how to wire it up.
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 1,172
Likes: 114
I’ll Google that. I’ve figured out what I need so far but I’ll double check with that site.
I’m gonna order 4 gauge wire, I have a 200 amp fuse. A 3G 130amp alternator. I can order the 5/16” lug seen a million of them.
The problem I have now:
Autozone won’t get the one I found for the 1/4” in a reasonable time.
I want to be changing this alternator and have it in this weekend, but I can’t find a 3/16” lug for 4 gauge wire from Amazon or any store near me. The 1/4” I can find but it’s expensive for what it is I think I’ll have to bite the bullet on the price there. But the 3/16” is obsolete I guess. I can’t find it. The one I did was a random site I’ve never heard of, which I’m not getting scammed so I didn’t try it. Makes no sense being the alternators stud needs a 3/16”, and it’s mass produced.
It’s 1/4” for the starter solenoid
3/16” for the alternator
516” for the fuse. Which I can find easily so 5/16 isn’t an issue.
I’m gonna order 4 gauge wire, I have a 200 amp fuse. A 3G 130amp alternator. I can order the 5/16” lug seen a million of them.
The problem I have now:
Autozone won’t get the one I found for the 1/4” in a reasonable time.
I want to be changing this alternator and have it in this weekend, but I can’t find a 3/16” lug for 4 gauge wire from Amazon or any store near me. The 1/4” I can find but it’s expensive for what it is I think I’ll have to bite the bullet on the price there. But the 3/16” is obsolete I guess. I can’t find it. The one I did was a random site I’ve never heard of, which I’m not getting scammed so I didn’t try it. Makes no sense being the alternators stud needs a 3/16”, and it’s mass produced.
It’s 1/4” for the starter solenoid
3/16” for the alternator
516” for the fuse. Which I can find easily so 5/16 isn’t an issue.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 871
Likes: 6
From: Orcas Island, WA
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 12,872
Likes: 2,445
For my conversion, I got the wire harness from the junkyard. Because the connector was different between my ‘89 and the ‘90 something harness all I had to do was splice my red/light green wire into the 3G harness.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 871
Likes: 6
From: Orcas Island, WA
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,550
Likes: 2,034
From: North Texas
Funny you mention this, I did the same for my '92 when I went from the 70A 2G to 130A 3G. Just found an OE harness and installed into mine, worked great with no screwing around. Sticks in my head the thing is 6awg. Sound right?
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 1,172
Likes: 114
This is what I was gonna get for all the wiring.
Am I missing anything? The voltage regulator will plug into it like the old one, and then I take the old wire out from the alternator and solenoid and put the new cable in with the 200A fuse? Or do I have to be connecting some other stuff and splicing the old harness?
I was going based off this.
These are the plugs on my new one