The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay 6V Regulator

Working on a 49 AD with a 216. Not worried about originality just driving. Any options for a voltage regulator (tractor, car.... ) that would work with the original generator?

Rock auto has a replacement 62.00.

There are two kinds of voltage regulators for stovebolt trucks- - - -"Delco-Remy" and "Wrong!" Ebay usually has a good variety of used 6V GM regulators, and a few new ones if your budget can take the hit. Don't necessarily limit your search to Chevy- - - -Pontiac, Buick, Olds and Cadillac will probably work, as long as the item is 6V Negative ground. 6V GMC regulators will be Positive ground, and might not work as well as one with the right ground polarity.

Just checked- - - -there are at least 25 "new old stock" Delco-Remy 6V regulators on Ebay today, plus a large number of used ones. It would be hard to GIVE me any brand of regulator other than Delco for a GM product, based on 60+ years of making a living in the automotive trade.
Jerry

Never noticed this before. Don't know why it can't be wired to ammeter as the note says.
Click
This may be a good option for you.
Otherwise, Classic Trucks is where you can get original type parts. They have the VR.

Rockauto (kevinski) has a much BETTER Warranty and price. Theirs is a Wells unit, not Chinese. Well known name. Mfg'ed. USA and Mexico.

I have a nearly new one sitting on a shelf. Would recommend just doing a conversion to a 12 volt alternator. I also ran the new alternator through the ammeter to the battery.

Speaking of the 12V conversion ... doesn't someone make a 12v alternator that looks like a generator?

PowerMaster Alternator $419
PowerGen Alternator $441 ($419-$469 from SpeedWay Motors)
They may be the same generator?

Gener-Nator
$1,000 - much more expensive, but it looks just like your old generator (they use your old generator)

The original Delco regulators are easier to adjust then the aftermarket replacements. They have a screw adjustment which is more accurate then the bend-a-tab type on the others. If this is a driver I too would change over to an alternator & 12 volts. The alt. puts out a lot more charge at idle & is more dependable.
If you use a 42-55 amp. alt. you can run it through the stock ammeter. Higher amps should not.

George

The entire design concept of an alternator demands a short, large diameter housing, so the long skinny ones that resemble generators are horribly inefficient. They're also outrageously expensive.

Higher amp alternators just need a shunt to bypass most of the current around the ammeter, which effectively turns the ammeter into a charge/discharge indicator. No problem, as dash-mounted ammeters have always been notoriously inaccurate, even when the vehicles were brand new.
Jerry

Alrighty ... Settles THAT, then.

If you want an alternator that looks like a generator, those generator-looking alternators should work OK.

Odder "upgrades"/conversions are posted here all the time.

If anyone has used one of those generator-looking-alternators, please post your experiences.

$400, WOW. I think the best options are a NEW or rebuilt Delco 10si 12V alternator 65A $40 or a NEW or rebuilt 1955.2 and up Delco 235, 283 V8 12V generator. looks like an AD, 30A $72.

PS: Tim, I think John has tongue in cheek....or could be a ceegar.

6v alternator positive or negative ground with choice of pulley width on ebay: $135. I'm too cheap to stay with high priced generator stuff that none of the present day people know how to test or work on and you said originality doesn't matter so it offers a choice. Also like alternator high output at low rpm.

i think lots of folks are coming around to that understanding. 6V and generators and voltage regulators and no fuses is just a little too much nostalgia. Doesn't hurt the look or feel or value to upgrade there.

216 wny Mike E is right If you can make (or buy) a 1-wire alternator and install is best.Then bolt your gen andarm wires together at the regulator field wire not used. Then change battery and bulbs , resistor on gas gauge,12volt coil, that 12v will really whip it over ! Your wires will be plenty big, too! One thing I have learned over years is to use an alternator with more turns of wire on the rotor because it will prime easier. My delcotron teacher (An old guy) would grab a rotorand stick his thumb in there and touch the wire on the rotor and say that will prime better. Also a smaller pully helps too ! Good Luck HEI too

John Any idea why my posts disappear then reappear or never appear again ???