gen. vs alt.
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I kept my generator (converted to 12V like yours) in the '48 and have driven it daily for 2 1/2 years. In my experience an alternator will bring the battery back to full charge within a couple of miles, and a generator takes about twice as far - 3 or 4 miles. Not enough where I drive it to matter in the least.
Another plus with the gennie - if your battery should drain completely a generator will recharge it from a flat condition. An alt will not - it needs juice to make juice.
Another plus with the gennie - if your battery should drain completely a generator will recharge it from a flat condition. An alt will not - it needs juice to make juice.
#5
I think its Fifth Avenue Auto Parts out of somewhere in iowa, they make a dandy 6 volt alternator that is a 1 wire set up, the generator battery wire is all you need, i swapped the gen pulley onto the new alt, and modified the orig lower gen bracket to mount the alt.
The six volt alt is in a delco case and cost me about 150 when i bought it, it put out about 60 amps, no more yellow candle lights and slow crank ups
The six volt alt is in a delco case and cost me about 150 when i bought it, it put out about 60 amps, no more yellow candle lights and slow crank ups
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#8
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Littleton, New Hampshire
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The amount of night driving you do might be a factor too...also, if you have electric wipers. A generator will hardly keep up when you run the lights, and add electric wipers and it won't keep up. There's a reason generators aren't used anymore. They weren't nearly as efficient. I'd convert it to an alternator...
#9
Mine has electric wipers, a heater, and I used both along with the headlights on for at least half of my 525 mile trip to pigeon forge as I drove all night.
My marmon herrington F-600 rool back with an electric winch worked fine also. It too had electric wipers, a heater and a few extra bed lights. All of this with no problems. Both of these trucks received new brushes and regulators, and as Abe stated I too repaced the battery cables.
Kevin Bigwin56f100
My marmon herrington F-600 rool back with an electric winch worked fine also. It too had electric wipers, a heater and a few extra bed lights. All of this with no problems. Both of these trucks received new brushes and regulators, and as Abe stated I too repaced the battery cables.
Kevin Bigwin56f100
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Hi Fordfaggiole
I've had both (Gen. on my '59 F-100, Alt on my '59 F-250).
Never had a problem with either.
You probably already know this, but I figured It might be worth mentioning anyway. The 50 amp alternator was a factory option available on 1958 Ford trucks.
I've had both (Gen. on my '59 F-100, Alt on my '59 F-250).
Never had a problem with either.
You probably already know this, but I figured It might be worth mentioning anyway. The 50 amp alternator was a factory option available on 1958 Ford trucks.
Last edited by Kenny; 12-31-2003 at 09:26 AM.
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Let me tell my generator story if any one cares to hear. I was 16 driving my 57. I thought a bungee cord would hold my battery in well I was wrong. The battery fell off the tray and landed on my exhaust manifold melted a hole in the battery. I had to remove the battery. So I was miles from home with no way to start my truck it was very late at night. I was near the top of a long hill so I decided drift it to the bottom. On the way down I thought I might try to drift start the truck. Put the truck in gear turned on the key and guess what. The old Y block fired up. Every thing worked lights heater wipers radio all with no battery.