Project_Daily

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.

97Z28SS

iTrader: (5)

Here ya go https://www.dbelectrical.com/product...-firebird.html, google is your friend.

Project_Daily

Yes I know I can Google it, but I don't trust the online reviews. Lord knows they're easy to buy with Chinese bots. I'm looking for someone with personal experience from these products. Thanks for the suggestion tho

Shownomercy

iTrader: (1)

I have a mr alternator 200amp unit which has been great, but seems like they have shut down their website.

Germansheperd1

Are you running stock or underdrive pulleys? If your alternator gas gone south when you replace it you can also get an overdrive alternator pulley for a lil more juice.

AdsoYo

iTrader: (1)

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.

Project_Daily

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.

AgFormula02

iTrader: (13)

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.

Project_Daily

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.

Germansheperd1

It wont be enough. I finally took off my crank UD pulley and put the stock one back on. I never had a dead battery but the volts would really drop at a light or with lights on and/or AC.