I know this should be basic. I have a '04 Ranger complete manual and the Mac's auto complete manual. So I'm hoping it should show the electrical layout to convert my '63 Eco to an alternator. Right???

 

04 wiring is differant.
macs may have the right diagram if it covers 65 up. if you use an autolite alt. with external reg. [hint, most regulators are marked where the wires go. i. e. i is indicator, s is stator, f is feild. alternators are marked also.]


dang i fat fingered that one up!

 

Or, you can cheat and use a single wire alternator......

 

The single wire was my thought but what's being eliminated and where does the single wire go? I guess my dilema is not if but what alternator to get. Also, this is a 200 CI from a 1978 Fairmont swap. An eBay fraud sale butcher job to be precise.

 

The single wire charges the battery, alternator is self-exciting. Route the wire and connect it to the battery side of the starter solenoid....

 

I've been putting Chebby One wire Alt's on sb fords for years. you just need the correct depth spacer and adj arm.

 

Sounds great! Now I wish I knew which model number to get??? Too many out there. Has anybody installed one??? Thanks....

 

Converting to a single wire alternator leaves me wondering where the generator indicator lead go's.

 

That's my confusion? Can't just go to one wire-where do the others go? No one's answered this yet. I'm not tearing into it until I know from start to finish.

 

Does anybody have the exact part # or model # to byt? Thanks...

 

Make that model # to "buy"? Thanks

 

let me see if i can find a part # for you. might even be able to find where the indicator wire goes!

i have a feeling you will have to use an inline amp or volt guage with the 1 wire deal.

 

The old wires are not used, do what you want with them. Single wire GM and Ford Alternators are available through many vendors, I bought my last one, a polished GM from Sumitt. My NAPA guy makes up a single wire conversion piece to plug into any standard GM alternator with the two prong plug in on the top, costs about $4.00. No diea what part number would be for the alternator, just get one for like a '78 Monte Carlo with a V-8. Should also give you some selection as to what output the alternator is. One wire goes back to the ignition switch run side, and the big wire goes to the battery side of the starter solenoid, large post. I don't know if the stock voltmeter works with this setup, I use Autometer gauges. The directions include single wire alternator installation instructions for the gauge.,....

 

I'm not sure if this will help anyone, but all Fords switched to alternators in 1965, except T-Birds which had them in 1963.

The 45 and 55 amp alternators used the same alternator wiring loom (14305) which many of the Mustang restoration shops/parts stores sell.

 

Im hoping that this thread will get some useful answers. I was stranded on the onramp today in my 64 Econoline, stalled the motor because Im still not very good at the "3 on the tree". Didnt start back up, had to bump start it. Limped home and the battery showed 11 volts running at about 2000 rpm. Same at idle. And it was dropping. Maybe it was the 600 watt stereo system at full blast, maybe it was 42 year old parts. Ive found alot of pages saying that 1 wire alts are not the way to go, and to put in a 3 wire might be difficult. Im gonna get a rebuild kit for the generator first, and see if that works. I figure it had worked since before I was born, why change it? Unless someone has a link describing how to plop in an altenator for less then $200, Im thinking the stereo can go.