The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Original car with aftermarket A/C & Power steering... what to do with charging system

Hey guys, know this is a car question, but this is the best place I could think of to ask...

The car is a box stock '56 chevy with factory power steering. This customer called me today saying that he'd added on aftermarket air, and wanted to know if I could rewind his generator to put out more amps.

The first thing that comes to mind is 1. Upgrade to an alternator, or 2. Change to a school bus generator..... Neither of these solutions is feasible because the stock power steering pump is mounted to the back of the original generator.

If I put heavier field windings and armature windings in the stock generator, I could accomplish maybe 45-50 amps... but there's another catch! The pulley on this generator is rather large, and I presume that this is to keep the speed at which the P/S pump is turning at a minimum... obviously not good at cruising or idle due to the no-charge state of the generator.

I'm not even sure where to begin with this one. Any bright ideas from any of y'all?

Justin,
I don't think he will ever be happy with the AC and the generator. Generators don't put out much if anything at idle no matter what the rating is. You could convert to an alternator and use a later model pump for the PS. Several of the aftermarket guys have a pump bracket that replaces the LF motor mount. You have to reduce the pressure in the newer pumps and probably run new lines and add a pulley . The car is not stock now with the aftermarket AC so might as well upgrade it to make it more driveable.
Fred

the owner is caught between a and a hard spot.
some older systems don't match with todays components. he'll have to make decisions. give him you're best guess for work costs and what needs worked on. because it's not stock now, ask him what you wants to do with this car. Base your answers/ suggestions on what he wants

good luck