Need4Camaro

iTrader: (1)

We're talking a 5 amp difference and I'm about to do the Big 3 Upgrade so I dont think performance is an issue. What I'm concerned about is reliability as I want this to be the last alternator I put on this car for the next 2 years. The duracraps have lasted not even a few months and I've eaten up about 5 of them in the course of a year.

I hear that the truck alternator is physically larger than the stock alternator but still will fit in the brackets but it will be a tight fit. Any truth to that? Will a larger alternator have any chance of lasting longer in a car? Or should I just go with Powermaster?

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

Are you comparing a new Powermaster to:

- A duracrap truck unit?

- An OEM reman (meaning GM) truck unit?

- A used truck unit with unknown mileage?

Need4Camaro

iTrader: (1)

I was thinking AC Delco / GM or maybe something from NAPA...
I wasn't aware that even the AC Delco / GM units are all just reman now...

DEFINITELY staying away from duracrap

wssix99

iTrader: (5)

Full disclosure: I don't own a Powermaster but would recommend going that route because:

- I've had just about every other brand die on me
- I've had to remove the alternator for tons of stuff not related to electrical (power steering repairs, full coolant flushes from the block, <some other reason that is escaping me at the moment>

I can't imagine the extra hell I would have had to go through dealing with a larger form factor. ^ It's bad enough as-is, especially without access to a lift.

98CayenneT/A

I just put in a 145 amp kg3 truck alternator last weekend and there were no fitment issues at all. Nice crisp lights, no dimming at idle.

$80 at the junk yard.

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

I agree. I don't trust used alternators unless I was the one who used it last. But a nice, used OEM piece is usually better than the typical chain auto parts store rebuilds.

On the other hand, I can't speak highly enough of my experiences with Powermaster products. I don't currently have one of their units on my LS1, but I have one of their 10SI units on my '71 and I couldn't be happier. Even installed in a one-wire configuration (which is supposedly inferior to the factory 3-wire setup of that era - something I agree with in theory, but it has proven to be a non-issue for this unit) it keeps up just fine with the increased electrical demands of my application and has given me many years of flawless operation.

That's been the case for quite a while. I can't speak on their current quality as I haven't bought one in quite a while, but previously they were very good and my go-to option. Now that Powermaster builds units for LS1s, that's the way I would personally go.