possibly dumb question
possibly dumb question Doing a 4.8 swap on my 91 camaro. Harness is 98% complete...
My question is could I use my third gen alternator on the ls motor?
It's brand new and I don't want to waste it
lol
My question is could I use my third gen alternator on the ls motor?
It's brand new and I don't want to waste it
lol 
Alternator Third gen is run by the computer I think and is not a one wire. Good news is that if it doesn't get the right signal from the computer to charge it will fail to 14.2 volts. If you have air, electric fans and any other heavy amp draw then it will struggle to keep up.
Most later model gm alternators are a charge wire(large post on back) and a signal wire (switched power in the plug) which tells the voltage regulator to turn on, and often a jumper wire or sender wire that tells the voltage regulator how much power the alternator is producing.
The signal and sender wires are built into the computer harness and should be able to be spoiled into the older aiternort connector and make everything work right.
The signal and sender wires are built into the computer harness and should be able to be spoiled into the older aiternort connector and make everything work right.
One probably goes to a charge indicator light and the other maybe from a switch power source. Check you vehicle's wiring diagrams. My lq4 alternator has two wires to the plug also. Match the two wires up, make sure they do the same thing. Should work fine. The charging system isn't that complex.
