[Kevin in NJ]

The alt is being pushed as the fix all for a part that has done fine for the last 80 years. You need to first look at your electrical systems. Why spend $100 or more when you do not know if it will fix your problems???

Do you know how to troubleshoot with a voltmeter? If you do not then ask someone who does help you.

First start with cleaning all your connections and inspecting the connectors for frayed wires, poor crimps, and good solder.

Go through and make sure the ground paths are actual paths. In our attempts to restore we do a great job of painting everything. The ground path in the A is battery to frame then through a bunch of paths to other places. The headlights go through the fender brackets, the headlamp bar and through the ball and socket. The engine goes through the springs, shackles, axles and or the engine pans.

Make sure your generator is properly set up. Where is your third brush? Do you understand what the third brush does?

Good reflectors and good connections will also improve your light. If you drive a lot at night I would switch over to the halogen bulbs that are direct replacements for the original bulbs. They will give you bright light with your generator. They use all the original sockets. Incidentally, do you have original or repro sockets and reflectors in your lamps? The originals work much better and the repro reflector is just not focused properly to work.

The horn needs to be properly rebuilt. The horn could need a good taking apart and proper cleaning and lube. What about the horn contact too? Dirt on the switch contacts could reduce the amount of current to make the horn work. Have you played with the horn screw adjustment? You might have to change the settings between parade and driving as you do not have as much current in a parade.

The switch to the gen is not without it problems. You have to remember the days when you had a V belt pulley on the alt. If it was the least bit loose you did not get a full rate. Usually the belt would squeal as it slipped if the belt was not so tight the pulley would not move when you pushed it with a finger. I think you will be lucky to find an alt on an A that is not so loose it could be spun with one finger. I have seem them loose enough the alt will spin a couple of revolutions with a flip of your finger. The alt may be able to put out 60 amps, but only if they belt is so tight it can not slip. In reality you are only getting some fraction of that top amperage because you should not tighten the belt tight enough. So if you are going to properly install the alt you best also make sure your water pump is up to the job too.

Then there is the other reality. Does the A need more than the 20 amps the generator will output? The answer is NO. Even with the halogen headlight bulbs from Australia you are fine with the regular generator. You would have to put on some major current hog accessories to require an alternator and even then the alt may not be able to really output enough current cause the belt is never tight enough.

Then there is the whole reliability myth. There is a lot of people having problems with their alternators. There does not seem to be a month going by where someone is having some kind of troubles.

Hope this gives you a better perspective.