The Ford Barn - View Single Post - What type of alternator is this on my 40 Ford.

bobH · 12-15-2025, 06:01 PM

[QUOTE=Gene1949;2427672]Gee wizz guys, give the man a break. Nobody really cares who is the better “purist”. He asked a simple question.. Anyways,
I would wire it correctly according to GM. The 1 wire does work but you will be a lot happier with the idoit light and sensing wire setup. Lot better performance at low RPMs like our flatties run. Also install the smallest pully you can find. That also helps at low rpms.

I'm with Gene, post 18. BFD if it's not 'purist'. And, I would wire it, like Gene said, per GM. Screw the one wire deal. Only the crowd with sanitary/sterile engine bays worship the one-wire nonsense. As for a replacement, any counterman should be able to solve that. If nothing else, just say 73 Chevy Impala 350... or whatever. If I were close, I'd be happy to assist. I'm sure my stash has a few working alternators of that variety. (And, stash has enough parts to fix any possible problem that your alt has.) Just sayin.....
(just for the record, and obviously OT, the last few conversions I've worked on, I used a FORD alternator, no matter what the engine was. I think the Ford alternator has a slightly cleaner-looking case. Something about a GM alternator, under a Ford hood, just doesn't look right to me. I have especially noticed this on Model A bangers. And yes, I've used the Ford alternator on top of a Chevy engine, in a Ford.) (Currently working on a 41. Torn between using a generator, or alternator.... on flathead engine.)

12-15-2025, 06:01 PM	#3
bobH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: so cal, placerville, vegas Posts: 1,436	Re: What type of alternator is this on my 40 Ford. [QUOTE=Gene1949;2427672]Gee wizz guys, give the man a break. Nobody really cares who is the better “purist”. He asked a simple question.. Anyways, I would wire it correctly according to GM. The 1 wire does work but you will be a lot happier with the idoit light and sensing wire setup. Lot better performance at low RPMs like our flatties run. Also install the smallest pully you can find. That also helps at low rpms. I'm with Gene, post 18. BFD if it's not 'purist'. And, I would wire it, like Gene said, per GM. Screw the one wire deal. Only the crowd with sanitary/sterile engine bays worship the one-wire nonsense. As for a replacement, any counterman should be able to solve that. If nothing else, just say 73 Chevy Impala 350... or whatever. If I were close, I'd be happy to assist. I'm sure my stash has a few working alternators of that variety. (And, stash has enough parts to fix any possible problem that your alt has.) Just sayin..... (just for the record, and obviously OT, the last few conversions I've worked on, I used a FORD alternator, no matter what the engine was. I think the Ford alternator has a slightly cleaner-looking case. Something about a GM alternator, under a Ford hood, just doesn't look right to me. I have especially noticed this on Model A bangers. And yes, I've used the Ford alternator on top of a Chevy engine, in a Ford.) (Currently working on a 41. Torn between using a generator, or alternator.... on flathead engine.)