single to dual alternator's
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From: VA
single to dual alternator's
Has anyone converted there truck to dual battery's and dual alternators. I plan to use the truck as a plow truck and between the lights and plow they pull a lot of extra power. I was thinking of pulling out the ac unit and replacing it with a second alternator and remotely locating a second battery in the bed of the truck any idea or suggestions.
thanks
91 F250
thanks
91 F250
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From: McNairy county, TN.
I am looking into the same thing, but my idea is to find an ambulance that came with dual alt's and get the brackets. On the 94.5-97 diesels the second alt was located (i believe) on the pass. side down low. I just need to find an ambulance now.
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From: VA
I was thinking of removing the ac compressor and installing the second alternator in the spot and then wiring it in with a switch and cross over so that you can run them together or separate that way if one fails while you are out the second one can take over without stranding you on the side of the road. I was going to fab the brackets myself i was not aware of the ambulance brackets I am not sure if they will fit mine I am running a 351w do you know if the brackets are interchangeable
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From: The dark carnival
I would love to do the same thing to my 302 so that my stereo has a dedicated battery and alternator...I just can't seem to come up with a way to mount the 2nd alt. Since I don't have a power steering pump, the factory location for the PS pump would be the best place to mount it I would think, but how am I going to mount an alternator there? Something would have to be fab'd up + getting it to line up with the other pullies could pose a problem...I am not a machinest and nobody seems to make anything for doing this that I know of so I am kinda stuck on this one.
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From: VA
The easiest way that i could see is to install it where your power steering pump was the brackets should be pretty straight forward with some flat stock a saw and a few spacers it will take some time and a lot of measuring you may also be able to go to a junkyard and get a second bracket for an alternator and then just make a couple flat brackets to fit that bracket to the block
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Ashland City, TN
WTF eco, You have a van with no power stearing pump?
That would make it almost impossible to drive....
The best place i can think of to mount a second alternator would be where the smog pump is.
You wouldnt' have to change your belt lenght i do not belive, and only some minor changes to the bracket would allow it to bolt right up.
That would make it almost impossible to drive....
The best place i can think of to mount a second alternator would be where the smog pump is.
You wouldnt' have to change your belt lenght i do not belive, and only some minor changes to the bracket would allow it to bolt right up.
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From: Joliet, Illinois
Just fab up a bracket and add a one wire alternator anywhere it will fit.
The one wire goes to battery positive.
Line it up with a belt that goes to an accessory and make sure the belt goes at least 1/4 of the way around all of the pullys on that belt, more would be better.
Mounting it to a double belt accessory would be better if you can fit it as too many accessories on one belt can cause it to slip under too heavy a load.
If you can get a crank pully with an extra belt mount space, that would be best.
The one wire goes to battery positive.
Line it up with a belt that goes to an accessory and make sure the belt goes at least 1/4 of the way around all of the pullys on that belt, more would be better.
Mounting it to a double belt accessory would be better if you can fit it as too many accessories on one belt can cause it to slip under too heavy a load.
If you can get a crank pully with an extra belt mount space, that would be best.
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Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Lakehurts, NJ
Why not just get a higher amp alternator an a Optima red top battery. That should be enough to handle the extra load.
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From: VA
I thought about the bigger alternator the only problem with that is if for any reason it stops working then i am stuck with two if one stops the other can pick up the load of the middle of a snow storm is not where you want to brake down.
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From: The dark carnival
I do have a spare bracket where the PS pump goes so that would make doing a mock set up easy. Last time I thought about this could not seem to come up with anything. I will look into it again. Another thought...I would need some kind of splash shield if the alt is going to be that close to the ground...any ideas there?
It's not that hard at all to steer. Take the pump off your truck, you will see what I mean.
Yeah, I can see how the air pump location would work. It would just be a matter of finding an alt that resembles the air pump bolt pattern. A splash shield would be a must. But, in that location it would not get that much belt contact. That litte amount of belt contact is not a problem for the air pump, but an alt would need a bit more. In the PS pump location, it would get a bit more, plus the water pump would get more contact too...a good thing...and all this at the expense of contact at the idler pully, somthing that does not need much of any contact in the first place.
Originally Posted by Talyn
WTF eco, You have a van with no power stearing pump?
That would make it almost impossible to drive....
The best place i can think of to mount a second alternator would be where the smog pump is.
You wouldnt' have to change your belt lenght i do not belive, and only some minor changes to the bracket would allow it to bolt right up.
That would make it almost impossible to drive....
The best place i can think of to mount a second alternator would be where the smog pump is.
You wouldnt' have to change your belt lenght i do not belive, and only some minor changes to the bracket would allow it to bolt right up.
Yeah, I can see how the air pump location would work. It would just be a matter of finding an alt that resembles the air pump bolt pattern. A splash shield would be a must. But, in that location it would not get that much belt contact. That litte amount of belt contact is not a problem for the air pump, but an alt would need a bit more. In the PS pump location, it would get a bit more, plus the water pump would get more contact too...a good thing...and all this at the expense of contact at the idler pully, somthing that does not need much of any contact in the first place.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Ashland City, TN
Yea, i have a leaking power stearing pump. So occasionally i'm stearing with no power stearing. And its almost impossible with my light f-150.
your van is much heavier.
If i can bearly turn enough to get out of my driveway with the pump working at 50% or lower. You must be a boddy builder. thats all i can think of.
The air pump in my 302 gets plenty of contact. The PS pump would get a bunch also.
But, why put it there, and just put in a power stearing pump instead?
The best suggestion yet in this thread is to find a diesel setup and copy that, or take the bracket. But with the battery on the passenger side, and room for 2 batteries there, an alternator would be better located on the passenger side for a shorter wire run.
However. With any stereo setup, a nice optima yellow or red top battery will do the trick just fine with a properly wired stereo and a good alternator.
If you are having troubles with those "massive" subs, don't be an idiot and install a capacitor. They will give you a harder thump, and save on your battery, and stop the flickering headlights.
your van is much heavier.
If i can bearly turn enough to get out of my driveway with the pump working at 50% or lower. You must be a boddy builder. thats all i can think of.
The air pump in my 302 gets plenty of contact. The PS pump would get a bunch also.
But, why put it there, and just put in a power stearing pump instead?
The best suggestion yet in this thread is to find a diesel setup and copy that, or take the bracket. But with the battery on the passenger side, and room for 2 batteries there, an alternator would be better located on the passenger side for a shorter wire run.
However. With any stereo setup, a nice optima yellow or red top battery will do the trick just fine with a properly wired stereo and a good alternator.
If you are having troubles with those "massive" subs, don't be an idiot and install a capacitor. They will give you a harder thump, and save on your battery, and stop the flickering headlights.
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From: Joliet, Illinois
Originally Posted by Talyn
Yea, i have a leaking power stearing pump. So occasionally i'm stearing with no power stearing. And its almost impossible with my light f-150.
your van is much heavier.
If i can bearly turn enough to get out of my driveway with the pump working at 50% or lower. You must be a boddy builder. thats all i can think of.
your van is much heavier.
If i can bearly turn enough to get out of my driveway with the pump working at 50% or lower. You must be a boddy builder. thats all i can think of.
My old 72 F100 4X4 with no power gave me a good work out, and that was with the right ratio and reasonable tires!
Originally Posted by Talyn
However. With any stereo setup, a nice optima yellow or red top battery will do the trick just fine with a properly wired stereo and a good alternator.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Ashland City, TN
The yellow optima's are what you are "supposto" put in your car.
The red ones are for a different application, however they will not hurt.
My military friend said they used all red top optima's on the generators in iraq, he was a diesel repair guy. I think they are more of a deep cycle battery.
I run a deep cycle on my truck, and it saves my ***, but its hard on your alternator, and you must remember to discharge them occasionally, because they are meant to be drained and refilled.
I didn't know there was a diff ratio for non PS trucks for the fords.
I've honestly never seen one after 86.
I have drove older vehicles with no power stearing, and a 92 chevy W/T (no options please) with no power stearing, and they were okay.
But the older 70's cars with the rack and pinion and the other one they mixed in, i forgot what that was. Those were easy to drive, but they were geared interesting.
The red ones are for a different application, however they will not hurt.
My military friend said they used all red top optima's on the generators in iraq, he was a diesel repair guy. I think they are more of a deep cycle battery.
I run a deep cycle on my truck, and it saves my ***, but its hard on your alternator, and you must remember to discharge them occasionally, because they are meant to be drained and refilled.
I didn't know there was a diff ratio for non PS trucks for the fords.
I've honestly never seen one after 86.
I have drove older vehicles with no power stearing, and a 92 chevy W/T (no options please) with no power stearing, and they were okay.
But the older 70's cars with the rack and pinion and the other one they mixed in, i forgot what that was. Those were easy to drive, but they were geared interesting.
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From: The dark carnival
Originally Posted by Talyn
I didn't know there was a diff ratio for non PS trucks for the fords.
I've honestly never seen one after 86.
I've honestly never seen one after 86.