The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Generator or Alternator?!

Hello bolters! Ok this what I got,51 chevy 1/2 ton with 235 engine and 12 volt conversion from previous owner. I found an HEI dist from a 250 I will be installing soon but the truck still has a generator that doesnt seem to work.

I got a digital voltmeter across the two top terminals but I get a 0 reading. Should I invest in rebuilding the generator or invest in a gen/alternator swap?! The truck still has the original wiring with some of it that did get redone.If I go with the Gen rebuild,will I have enough juice to fire the HEI? Thanx in advance fellas!

12v alt ... 3 wire
http://www.madelectrical.com/electricaltech/onewire-threewire.shtml

I vote for the alt. The gen. will power the HEI but it doesn't charge at idle. If you get stuck in heavy traffic at night you may litterally be stuck. The alt is much more dependable.

Thanx for the help Carolines Truck and Wrenchbender. I pulled the HEI out of that 250 today. Will the stock wiring hold up with an alt until I get a new wiring harness?

you'll need 10 or 12 ga wire from the ign switch to the hei

Cool.Thanx alot!

Is it hard to find an alternator for these? I have a 57 235 and am thinking about replacing the generator.

46 half ton - If your looking for a 6 volt alternator I would go with the one from www.fifthaveinternetgarage.com . I've had one of theirs on TOTO for a couple of years and love it and had no problems with the product and Randy is super helpful when it comes to any questions you may have . I'll be putting one on my '50 fire truck next year . ED H

BYW ED
i love the name of your tow sled ............ TO(w)-TO(w)

CT - Thanks I hadn't thought on the play on words and use . Just had Toto's flat fixed and just about had a cow . I've never had a large truck tire fixed before and was not ready for the shock of the cost ! $37 - I'll Darn sure be more carful of where I put Toto's feet from now on . ED H

Just noticed you're based in Wamego,Ks DaOzTinman. I work for the railroad and I was up there this summer working on the mainline that goes thru Frankfort,Onaga. Boy was it HOT and HUMID!

Humm it soumds like you were here in June or July it does get rather warm and humid then .Looking out the front of my shop I can see the UP central line a couple of hundred feet away and the UP Caboose on display next to it. It's nice to see trains when you are working on trucks . Had UP 844 run by a couple of years ago - have a few good pictures. As far as the alternator question - if anyone is in the area you Should stop by 5th Ave.Garage in Clay Center but be prepaired to spend some time looking at Randys shop / "toys" and BSing with him . Well worth the time and you Will learn something new ! ED H

Yeah I beleive it was late July early August when we were up there. Our coffee stop was a gas station on the corner of Hwy 24 & 99. Not many stores open at 5am!
Its nice watching trains go by especially UP 844. Ive seen it a few times on the mainlines in Nebraska. Last time I saw was in Sept,I was on an on-track nightshift maint crew. Came thru bout midnight and we had a couple of new young guys working and got spooked! They thought it was a ghost train!

that's the one
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/yt-ZLKgABW2yiE/union_pacific_844_steam_engine/
http://www.thelope.com/2007/08/to-see-her-again.html


&
http://www5.pair.com/rattenne/essay/dedtrain.html

Yep thats the one. Ive been fortunate enough to see it every year that we're sent to work in the Midwest. By the way DaOzTinman, there happens to be a couple of AD trucks in Frankfort you might be interested in checking out.
They are located on the west end of 4th Street,just before the railroad tracks. Theres a Chevy grain truck and a 1/2 ton inside a small garage.

Seems like the grain truck hasn't been moved for a awhile.

51 bt - Thanks for the truck info will have to look into it . Your coffee shop is only several hundered feet east on 4th st. from my ex-printing museum /now shop . You could have seen TOTO ( and now the fire truck ) around back if you would have known .Next time your in the area look me up. ED H

Oh wow right down the street huh? We never got around to finish the railroad project we were doing up there so there might be a chance of us going back to finish. Ill make sure we make a stop by your shop!