High Output Alternator Recommendations for LT1?
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 79
Likes: 5
From: Houston, Texas
High Output Alternator Recommendations for LT1? My 94 Bird needs constant jump-starts and i'm nearly positive insufficient alternator power is to blame. Its got MSD ignition, an electric waterpump, and a pair of amps driving 6 speakers. I've also just replaced the battery with no relief of symptoms, so I'm thinking the alternator is just too overtaxed to compete. Sitting at idle with the A/C makes the Volt meter read about 9 volts: not good. So, does anyone have any recommendations for an alternator for this type of application? Any help is appreciated.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 79
Likes: 5
From: Houston, Texas
Here ya go https://www.dbelectrical.com/product...-firebird.html, google is your friend.
I've had a good experience with my Torqhead alternator so far. Looks like they only have a 140 amp unit right now, I could've sworn they had a 200 amp at one point. I have the 140 and it doesn't break a sweat running all my bells and whistles including A/C and a 400w subwoofer amp.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 79
Likes: 5
From: Houston, Texas
The crank is underdriven, and I have an overdrive pulley for the alternator that I plan to install as a cheaper solution to try. I'm just waiting on the shorter belt I need to arrive. However, my fear is that it won't be enough to really fix the problem, so I'm trying to gage what other people's experiences have been. Plus if it doesn't work I can put the same pulley on any other alternator I get.
Trending Topics
Underdrive pulley will hurt charging, specially at low rpms and also with the large electrical load you have.
i don’t care how good of an alternator you put on it, if it does not spin the minimal amount needed, you will continue to have problems.
i don’t care how good of an alternator you put on it, if it does not spin the minimal amount needed, you will continue to have problems.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 79
Likes: 5
From: Houston, Texas
Hence why I've got an overdrive pulley for the thing. As long as you can restore the original ratio it shouldn't make a difference. Speaking of, I just got a 1.9" pulley installed and it has definitely made a difference, but I've still got a slow voltage drop to about 10 volts with A/C on, turn signal flashing, and stereo up at idle. But moving at all is now just under 13 volts. I've never had a car with a typical charging system as I bought the car with the pulleys already installed. Does this sound sustainable to the old heads on this board or do I need a more powerful alternator? So far it has started up just fine but I've only started it 3 times since the install.
On The Tree
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 110
Likes: 19
From: Ohio
The crank is underdriven, and I have an overdrive pulley for the alternator that I plan to install as a cheaper solution to try. I'm just waiting on the shorter belt I need to arrive. However, my fear is that it won't be enough to really fix the problem, so I'm trying to gage what other people's experiences have been. Plus if it doesn't work I can put the same pulley on any other alternator I get.