Alternator??

[DaveBauerSS6]

I'm adding a alternator to my IMCA Stock Car for next year. I don't want to buy a $300 one out of a catalog.
What is available that's small and one wire. The GM one from the mid 90s is on the big side.
What is the brand of pulley that is about 4 inch diameter that mounts on the face of the water pump pulley?

[racer69]

I recently stumbled across a great alternator! And I love to share knowledge. I found the volvo alt that is a one wire with lighter weight, GM style mounts except for metric threads, and a shaft that lends to many pulley choices. Just put one on my asphalt car and next years mod will have one too.

[DaveBauerSS6]

I recently stumbled across a great alternator! And I love to share knowledge. I found the volvo alt that is a one wire with lighter weight, GM style mounts except for metric threads, and a shaft that lends to many pulley choices. Just put one on my asphalt car and next years mod will have one too.

Any idea what year or model?
Thanks

[usafracer]

I run one off a mid 80's toyota 4-cyl. I also run it on a switch so I can cut it off when I want.

[ToddSmith16]

the brand you are looking for that has a small pulley near the fan is Powermaster. I found one used for just over $100, works like a champ!

[DaveBauerSS6]

powermaster kit for about $300 is a bargain, pulleys, brackets, spacers and small alternator.

I ran their kit before IMCA outlawed alternators and it worked great.

So you cant run a alternator?

[DaveBauerSS6]

You could in until 05 then you couldnt, now you can again..

How is post op going?

[DaveBauerSS6]

Its going ok.

I dont think our races are long enough to warrant a alternator. I dont even charge my battery at 2-3 day shows.

Glad to hear you are OK.

I will be running two cars at the track thats 1 1/2 hours away. I plan on leaving my car at the track in a sea container. The alternator will eliminate one thing to do.
We'll see how well this works.
Hell its a Nova, so I should be out run by all them metrics and not have any contact, right!

[DaveBauerSS6]

Nova's are the best stock car ever!

More I think about it the better it gets. Them used mod tires Scott gives me will last all year since that Nova cant run with the pack!!

[sj valley dave]

Hey Dave, how about the company that makes a one wire alternator within the water pump housing..I think Billy S or Dave T w/ the 3D car has one and they love it..No extra brackets, belts, etc...Can't remember the name..

[DaveBauerSS6]

Racemate is the one who makes those

I have 1/2 of one and a whole one is out of my budget.

[DaveBauerSS6]

I think they are more than the powermaster kit.

Ya,, I saw a used one on Racejunjk for $600?

I found a small alt for a 1989 Toyota Tercel 45 amp for manual trans. Small looks easy to mount on front pulley for water pump. 3 ignition wires and a battery wire. looks like I can make it a 1 wire. Came with a MV belt pulley. I had a small single groove pulley in my junk. I run the water pump 1 to 1. I think that may be a rpm problem. Need to think some more.

thanks for the suggestions, it sent me the right direction.

[DANNY]

I got a quote from racemate the complete kit cost almost $800 lol. Its good stuff but thats more then the pistons for my new motor Im putting together... So I am going to look into one off a motorcycle just have to look around... Making a mount should be easy enough solid mount it...

[ToddSmith16]

You beat me to it...they are expensive as H E L L! NASCAR price!

[dynoman14]

I personally don't run my alternators at a 1:1 rate as it is way over-kill for the bearings and the innerds. Most alternators put out 100% at 1500-2000rpms, all you have to do is check the specs or hook it up to a volt meter when you run it.

That may be a reason why so many folks think they rob too much power, running an operational alternator at 7000rpms might just drag 10-15hp out of an engine.

As far as charging systems and batteries go, I am not sure I have seen batteries that run at 95-100% output for a whole weekend or even a 50 lap race. I have tested the best stuff around, Optima, Braille, Deka and more and they all lose voltage and amperage output significantly after the first 10% of battery drain, usually only takes 10-20 laps.

You ignition system has a big contribution to battery drain and probably MSD is the best at covering up for low voltage as it continues to run even as low as 10.5 volts. The output may not be as good but it will fire a spark plug.

We did testing and ran on the battery for 50 laps and about every 10 laps we lost 2-3 RWHP. At the end of 50 Laps we turned the switch on the Alternator and had full power back within 10 laps. One thing you have to consider is the alternator only runs as the battery needs power and if the battery is fully charged the load of the alternator on the engine drive system is almost nil.

Cheapest alternator around is the Chevy 60-65amp available in most parts stores for $49 with serpentine pully already on it. It can be converted to one wire with a simple splice in the plug in and I don't have the schematic readily available but it is online with "one wire search". I personally use a small honda or mitsubishi or toyota, whichever I can get cheapest and do the same conversion. They are 1/2 the size and weight but cost about $150.

I have used the race-mates and the problem I ran into is when the alternator goes bad the WP stops working. Not good for the engine. After about 5 of them having problems on both Fords and Chevy's I never used one again.

Next thing you know is dirt cars will be running electric fans...