Alternator
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 859
Likes: 2
From: Frozen Tundra, WI
Alternator I am curious what size alternator you guys are running?? In my case I have no PCM (carb'd obviously) but do have an 18" electric fan and AC, the rest is fairly standard. I am leaning towards the 145 amp (rather than 105) because of the hurricane force winds (fan) under the hood??
I am running an 85 amp denso unit with zero issues.
IMO you don't need even 105 amps let alone 145. Back in the 60's and 70's it wasn't uncomon to see 45 amp alternators. The 100+ amp units only came about when fuel injection came into being. That and all the electric accessories on cars today.
Can't hurt to have excess capacity, but just keep in mind your current draw dropped a whole bunch of amps when you deleted the EFI.
Most fans draw less than 35 amps when on high speed. However very few LS swaps need the high speed fans. Most guys get sufficient cooling with just the low speed. I don't even have the high speed windings hooked up, don't need it.
IMO you don't need even 105 amps let alone 145. Back in the 60's and 70's it wasn't uncomon to see 45 amp alternators. The 100+ amp units only came about when fuel injection came into being. That and all the electric accessories on cars today.
Can't hurt to have excess capacity, but just keep in mind your current draw dropped a whole bunch of amps when you deleted the EFI.
Most fans draw less than 35 amps when on high speed. However very few LS swaps need the high speed fans. Most guys get sufficient cooling with just the low speed. I don't even have the high speed windings hooked up, don't need it.
