Notices
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Fat Fendered and Classic Ford Trucks

Ford alternator in 1956?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 1, 2014 | 03:08 PM
  #1  
MBfreak's Avatar
MBfreak
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Sweden
Ford alternator in 1956?

Hi,
I am still chasing the 56 F100 close to where I live but the PO is a bit reluctantat.
In anticipation of becoming the NO, I bought the 1948/56 Ford Truck CD with lots of illustrations and part numbers. Great reading.

When I came to the electrical I was stunned. In the 1956 electricals there was an alternator shown! Went on but could not find a rectifier unit, except that one is listed in the text part.

To the best of my knowledge, hi power diodes did not exist in 1956, and the silicon semiconductors that did exist where mostly lopower transistors .

Can anybody enlighten me how the alternator threephase current was rectified?

In Europe, Bosch introduced alternator with built in silicone rectifiers but external relay-type voltage control in 1963.

All info appreciated!

Best regards

Ola
 
Reply
Old Feb 1, 2014 | 05:34 PM
  #2  
ALBUQ F-1's Avatar
ALBUQ F-1
Fleet Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,294
Likes: 1,055
From: NM
Silicon diodes, apparently. I have a Motor Manual that covers up to '62, and it has an entire section devoted to Delco, Autolite, Chrysler, and Leece-Neville alternators, all showing silicon diodes.
 
Reply
Old Feb 2, 2014 | 01:54 PM
  #3  
MBfreak's Avatar
MBfreak
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Sweden
First Ford Alternator

Thanks, and I have been trying quite hard to find som background info on typical 30-60A/100V silicon diodes from 1956, but no luck at all.
IR has a nice Company History write up year by year and lists typical 1A diodes from 1960. As late as 1965 they were also heavily involved with selenium rectifiers!

I found this on Wikipedia, for whatever it may be worth:
Alternators were first introduced by the Chrysler Corporation on the Valiant in 1960, several years ahead of Ford and GM.

So, being intrested in this subject, does anybody have a schematic, exploded view or photo of the early Ford alternator ( 1956 acc to the partsbook)

Best regards

Ola
 
Reply
Old Feb 2, 2014 | 02:32 PM
  #4  
ALBUQ F-1's Avatar
ALBUQ F-1
Fleet Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,294
Likes: 1,055
From: NM
There's an exploded view on pg. 310 of the Parts CD, I couldn't find any schematics online. Note the exploded view seems to show only 3 diodes? Not full-wave rectified?
 
Reply
Old Feb 2, 2014 | 03:48 PM
  #5  
raytasch's Avatar
raytasch
Believe Nothing
20 Year Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,514
Likes: 398
From: W. Central FL.
Club FTE Silver Member

So what did Ford use the alternator on in 1956, what application? Big truck? My earliest knowledge of Ford's alternator came in the 1963 T birds. Up till then, the birds used a generator.
 
Reply
Old Feb 2, 2014 | 04:12 PM
  #6  
38 coupe's Avatar
38 coupe
Cargo Master
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,927
Likes: 135
From: Houston
I have seen pictures of a 1936 Ford ton and a half truck with an original 6V alternator. Apparently it was an option, mostly used for bus use. The rectifier bolted to the driver side head and was almost as big as a flathead head is wide from top to bottom.
 
Reply
Old Feb 2, 2014 | 04:14 PM
  #7  
38 coupe's Avatar
38 coupe
Cargo Master
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,927
Likes: 135
From: Houston
Usually if you needed more electricity you got an American Bosch high output special service generator and regulator. These come up occasionally on e-bay. The only ones I have ever seen sell are the ones I bought.
 
Reply
Old Feb 2, 2014 | 07:09 PM
  #8  
ALBUQ F-1's Avatar
ALBUQ F-1
Fleet Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,294
Likes: 1,055
From: NM
Originally Posted by 38 coupe
I have seen pictures of a 1936 Ford ton and a half truck with an original 6V alternator. Apparently it was an option, mostly used for bus use. The rectifier bolted to the driver side head and was almost as big as a flathead head is wide from top to bottom.
In my powerplant work, I swear I have seen some kind of rectifying bridge that didn't rely on semiconductors, used in a plant built in the '40's. It was used to get DC for the main generator's exciter.

I wonder if the Parts CD is showing an alternator that superceded generators for replacements on '56's?
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-4

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-6

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
Old Feb 3, 2014 | 01:50 PM
  #9  
MBfreak's Avatar
MBfreak
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Sweden
Ford early alternator

Before the advent of the silicone diodes there were a number of different technologies for hi-current ( 1 A and up to kAmps) rectification. Vacuum tube diodes, selenium rectifiers and mercury vapor rectifiers among others.
I have seen and worked with all of these, and it was a quantum leap when the silicone diodes took over!
38 cpe the info on the 6V alternator with presumably selenium rectifiers from the thirties was really interesting! What a monster.
Ross, as regards the parts manual pages 310 and 311.
I see a stator winding , 3 phase, where the three leads are brought out and terminated on three individual screw terminals which are insulated by a ( bakelite?) block with part number 10329. There are no diodes, as I understand. Ie they are located separately.
Looking at the wiring diagrams later on I only see layouts with generators.

So I guess it is time for me to quit this subject for now, and thanks far all help to try to iron out this question.

Until proven wrong I think that I will have to believe that GM was first in 1960 with alternators and silicone diodes in the US and Bosch in Europe in 1963 in the 230 SL .

Thanks again

Ola
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Jsek
1957 - 1960 F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
4
Nov 20, 2016 08:44 AM
gearloose1
Electrical Systems/Wiring
1
Jun 10, 2010 10:42 PM
sciondude09
Electrical Systems/Wiring
2
Mar 6, 2009 12:34 PM
sevenL4
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
3
Oct 31, 2004 08:55 PM
artskyd
1961 - 1966 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
1
Jul 22, 2001 11:35 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:13 AM.

story-0
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-02 21:45:57


VIEW MORE
story-1
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-30 18:33:59


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-3
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-5
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-6
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-9
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE