I'm using the american autowire harness kit for my truck, and it requires the use of a single wire or internally regulated alternator. I bought a gm single wire, but it won't mount due to the back of it hitting the head. Really, what I'm asking is: is there a bracket or some other way to mount it, or is there an alternator that will fit that is internally regulated?

 

Don't know about the brackets, you didn't say what engine you have. I put a 86 GM alternator on my Ranger, I had to drill the hole out to a bigger size and modify the adjuster bracket. I hope the GM single wire works ok, they do some hokus pokus to get them online to charge, sometimes you have to rev the engine before it will start charging. You could have gotten a stock GM like I did, it requires the large wire to the battery and a smaller wire to a small light in the dash and then to the ignition switch.

Another option would be to wire in the original alternator. It's not that difficult, we could walk you through it. The main thing you need for most OEM alternators is a key on 12v signal wire from the keyswitch to bring the alternator online to charge. If you do not have this, it will run the battery down when it's sitting without the engine running. That is why the one wire alternators have a special regulator to bring them online automatically, when it works.

 

Sorry, didn't realize I forgot to mention that. Its the 352. I no longer have the original alternator sadly. It was making some real interesting sounds when it spun, so I traded it out for a reman at oreilly's, then it sat for a couple months and during that time a squirrel had a field day in the engine bay. The kit I'm using has a 12v starter I believe, but I'll double check when I can. I guess I could try the 86 as well, since the worst that could happen is I have to take it back.

 

Do you have a alternator to use at all right now? I am a little down on the one wire rigs, I also don't like that if it goes bad, you have to special order another, while most OEM alternators are stocked at the local parts store. But if you already have it, I would use it.

I mentioned a 1986 alternator that I used that I had laying around, it was a larger one off a ss monte carlo. I have also used one off a 1979 monte carlo, it was the same type. They have a internal regulator and 3 connections on them. One was the large output connection bolt, the other two connnections are smaller slide on connectors, one is labeled "1" and the other is labeled "2". #2 terminal is the feedback for the internal regulator to tell it how hard to make the alternator charge. It works fine if you just put a short wire to it and run it over and connect it to the large output terminal bolt.

That leaves you with #1 terminal, which is a small wire leading to a ungrounded light in the dash. It goes in one side of the light, and the other side of the light goes to a key-on power source. When you first turn the key to run but do not start the engine, this dash light will light up. When you get the engine started and the alternator starts charging, the light will go out. This is really handy to see what is going on with the charging system, and will also tell you if you throw a belt or something and the alternator quits turning.

Your last connection is the heavier wire going to the battery +. You can also run it to the solenoid + connection if you have a fender mounted solenoid. Like I mentioned, this large stud on the back of the alternator will have the short #2 terminal wire underneath it also.

 

Currently the one wire is my only alternator and the only reason I tried it is my local oreilly's had it in stock. I live near a dirt track and short asphalt oval so older GM parts are pretty abundant. I may try your suggestion though. I was going to go the G3 route, but since I'm pretty much learning how to do anything automotive related on this truck and a dirt car, I didn't want to get myself in a mess I can't myself out of.

 

I assume you meant a Ford 3G. It's ok too and has a lot of output depending on what model you find, but you have to make sure you find one that is easiest to mount, your mounts would have to be modified for it also. The GM is used a lot on tractors and equipment, my Case backhoe has one on it.