PRVersion
11-20-2009, 04:21 PM
i searched, and from what i could find, this hasn't been covered. i realize this is pretty easy, but if you're not particularly familiar with wiring and such, it can seem like a more daunting task than it is.
there are probably easier alternators to do this swap with, but i used what i had laying around: vw parts! but this is more focused on the wiring itself than the alternator in question.
Firstly: unhook the wiring from the alternator and the external regulator. then remove the old alternator.
Second: cut open the wiring harness until all the wires going between the alternator and the regulator are exposed. now the pics here are from a '75 240, so your wiring may vary slighty, but probably not by much. if you have a B20, you at least have a tang cast into the block to mount an alternator, if not, you may have to purchase or fab up your own alternator mount. IPD sells them for fairly cheap, and i've heard of other companies selling different versions for things like 100amp SBC alternators.
Third: this is roughly what you will find when you open up the harness:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v285/starseed1066/the%20wagon/S6300137.jpg
the black plug with three wires is the regulator portion, remove it from the equation however you see fit. you want to cut out everything but the one red exciter wire, and the two (or maybe one, in some cases) heavier red wires.
Fourth: re-wrap the harness with tape after you get the harness narrowed down. or don't, whatever. either way it should look like this:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v285/starseed1066/the%20wagon/S6300139.jpg
the black wire is the old ground wire that went from the alternator to the external regulator. i simply cut it down so that it went to the nearest groundable point on the body, and added another terminal to the other end. simply attach it to the body on one end, and mount the other end to the body of the alternator.
Fin: hook the exciter wire to the D+ terminal on the alternator. hook the batt/starter wire to the B+ terminal. reinstall the alternator. that's it. wasn't that easy?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v285/starseed1066/the%20wagon/S6300152.jpg
now, if you want to follow in my footsteps with the choice of alternator, you'll need to have a welder and a grinder handy, as well as various drills. PM me for all the details, it was super easy.
there are probably easier alternators to do this swap with, but i used what i had laying around: vw parts! but this is more focused on the wiring itself than the alternator in question.
Firstly: unhook the wiring from the alternator and the external regulator. then remove the old alternator.
Second: cut open the wiring harness until all the wires going between the alternator and the regulator are exposed. now the pics here are from a '75 240, so your wiring may vary slighty, but probably not by much. if you have a B20, you at least have a tang cast into the block to mount an alternator, if not, you may have to purchase or fab up your own alternator mount. IPD sells them for fairly cheap, and i've heard of other companies selling different versions for things like 100amp SBC alternators.
Third: this is roughly what you will find when you open up the harness:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v285/starseed1066/the%20wagon/S6300137.jpg
the black plug with three wires is the regulator portion, remove it from the equation however you see fit. you want to cut out everything but the one red exciter wire, and the two (or maybe one, in some cases) heavier red wires.
Fourth: re-wrap the harness with tape after you get the harness narrowed down. or don't, whatever. either way it should look like this:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v285/starseed1066/the%20wagon/S6300139.jpg
the black wire is the old ground wire that went from the alternator to the external regulator. i simply cut it down so that it went to the nearest groundable point on the body, and added another terminal to the other end. simply attach it to the body on one end, and mount the other end to the body of the alternator.
Fin: hook the exciter wire to the D+ terminal on the alternator. hook the batt/starter wire to the B+ terminal. reinstall the alternator. that's it. wasn't that easy?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v285/starseed1066/the%20wagon/S6300152.jpg
now, if you want to follow in my footsteps with the choice of alternator, you'll need to have a welder and a grinder handy, as well as various drills. PM me for all the details, it was super easy.