Wrenchbender;
I've been running an 85 amp alternator on my '57 GMC 270 since I put the engine in,and it works fine. I used a new belt from NAPA when I installed,and set it to about 1/4 inch free play between the alternator and water pump pulleys. So far,the biggest load I've put it to is jump starting a Ford F-700 truck (391 V-8) that had been parked for several years for a friend. It still had it's stock (totally dead) battery,and took quite a lot of cranking to get fuel to the carb.
I've gone with the idea that you can never put too big of an alternator on-as was said earlier,no matter what size you install,the system only uses what it needs. I say it's better to have power you don't use than to need power you don't have.
Speed
