Amazon: Alternator Conversion Wiring

[frogster]

Just a short intro into the start of what is going to be a long project for my son/me, who at 17 has decided to buy a a 1966 122s project car, it was a deal we could not pass up as it came with a wealth of spares of which some are quite rare, that is like to drive us both mad at times.
So first question is at some satge the car was being converted to an alternator but was never completed, alternator fitted but not wired to either the voltage regulator or starter motor, whether that is correct or not.
the alternator is a Lucas make not sure which model but it has three spade connections on the back, are there any wiring diagrams available or helpful posts to complete this as i have found lots of confusing info so far, and am tired of having to charge the battery up.
Thanks
Kevin

[Ron Kwas]

Kevin;

Preface: My experience comes from having engineered many conversions ** based on the Delco Alternators, because these are reliable, quality, and common units with an existing supply, test, service and repair infrastructure stateside. In Europe, I would expect this to alternately be the case for Bosch Alts (I have no info on Lucas units).

...so I would say the first decision you need to make is if you want to continue the conversion installing that particular Alt...and that would be based in-part on the reliability info which you would need to research...I have no more than the general bad reputation of the Lucas name for auto electrics, although if the Alt you have has a separate VReg that's already Strike 1 against it...if it is a Relay style VReg, that's Strike 2, and if the Alt is rated at anything less than 50 A output, that would be Strike 3 and the basis for me to recommend you change to a more modern, 60A, internally (Solid State) regulated Bosch...if you decide to proceed, or whatever Alt you wind up using, the general procedure would be to get any identification numbers off the Alt and match them to vehicles from which it was sourced, and use their Charging System wiring diagrams as a guide for your vehicle.

The previous is basic and superficial info...specifically, and depending on which Alt is used, mechanical factors must also be observed! See also: http://www.sw-em.com/altkit_additional.htm

Good Hunting!

** Full Disclosure: I offer Alt conversions for B18/20 for vintage Volvos.
See: http://www.sw-em.com/altkit.htm

[old fart]

If your alternator is like the one on my TR4, it will have 2 large terminals and one small one. If you remove the wires from the output side of the voltage regulator, these will need connecting to the alternator, with the thick wire to a large terminal and the thin one to the small terminal.
Regards
Andy.

[frogster]

Thanks for the replys, at present there isnt any wiring from the alternator to anywhere, or from the existing regulator, by the sounds of it it would be worth while going down the conversion kit route which hopefully will have everything required for the conversion.