Alternator Upgrade
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Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2004
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Alternator Upgrade
I was just reading another post and someone noted that the stock alternator on the early broncos is pretty weak. I am aware of this as mine has trouble running just my headlights and heater efficiently when driving at night, add the windshield wipers to the equation during a snowstrorm up here and nothing works very well at all.
My question is this: Where do I find an affordable upgrade alternator to run my headlights, windshield wipers, heater, and stereo all at the same time?
I know Wildhorses offers a Mean Green alternator but it is around $300 and I am a college student and don't really have that kind of money to spend at this particular point in time. Any help would be appreciated, thank you from Oregon.
My question is this: Where do I find an affordable upgrade alternator to run my headlights, windshield wipers, heater, and stereo all at the same time?
I know Wildhorses offers a Mean Green alternator but it is around $300 and I am a college student and don't really have that kind of money to spend at this particular point in time. Any help would be appreciated, thank you from Oregon.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 819
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From: Troy,NY
That is a little expensive. There are 2 pretty common swaps. The easiere is called a G1 alternator out of a ford. If you don't mind junkyardinig a bit look in late 70's to mid 80's lincoln. It's a little bigger than the stock one so you will need to switch the spacer on your bracket. Get the pig tail off the alternator too. It will work with your voltage regulator. Good for about 90 amps. The other is a G3 alternator from a late 80's to late 90's Taurus. One is 90 amps and the other is 130 
It has the voltage regulator on the back of it so all you need is one large wire to your battery. The down side is you will need to get a pulley to fit and they take a lot to turn them so it might be squeaky. I give you some links when I get a chance.
Here's one to get you started. Go down the column on the left to the tech library. The one you want is called G3
http://bcbroncos.com/info.html
It has the voltage regulator on the back of it so all you need is one large wire to your battery. The down side is you will need to get a pulley to fit and they take a lot to turn them so it might be squeaky. I give you some links when I get a chance.Here's one to get you started. Go down the column on the left to the tech library. The one you want is called G3
http://bcbroncos.com/info.html
Last edited by ken75ranger; Dec 6, 2005 at 05:29 PM.
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Joined: Mar 2002
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 37
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From: Salt Lake City
When my original alternator in my 74 finally quite last month, I replaced it with a stock replacement from the local parts store and just about doubled the amp output. My stock one had something like 38 amps stamped into it, and the replacement was a 70 amp unit and was a true bolt on replacement. I also replaced the voltage regulator at the same time. Now I can actually use all the electrics and have bright headlights.
