alternator for a 59A

[dad's deuce roadster]

Guys, I've been silent for a while, but things are moving with the engine for the 32 roadster. While our official engine builder sets our 8BA aside as it's racing season and he has $40,000 engines to build, my brother and I opted to do a low cost build on our what 59A with the small crack. We had some good leads on various parts at good prices and decided to take the risk that the crack would behave itself, especially running with a fan to control the temp.

In keeping with the low cost objective, for now we are OK with getting an alternator that is not traditional. We're looking for a single wire, negative ground part which can mount on the front of the navarro dual stromberg manifold. Given the dual cars, it needs to be a short alternator.

Note, looking at the avatar, we've dropped the diver helmet distributor in favor of the crab.

Any guidance on this will be appreciated.

[cas3]

If you do some searching you will see that its not recommended to run a fan on most alternators as the front bearing is not adequate for the extra fan load. Some more opinions will surface I'm sure. I run a whitney converted original generator on my 34. They are not cheap, and do not make big amps, but run my sealed beam headlights just fine

[dad's deuce roadster]

Actually, the fan is electric, on the radiator, so it's not an issue. I know, not the classic look, but as the car is a lowboy, a traditional fan was not going to clear the radiator hoses. We may change that in the future, but it will get us going. Aligning with that, right now we would like to get things going, so I'm OK with a non-traditional alternator.

[TJ]

You might look at some of the foreign car alternators since you are 12 volt. Some are smaller diameter and shorter.

[supereal]

I have a typical GM modified alternator on my '47 as sold by many parts sources. It is adequate, but usually requires revving the engine to get it to come on. I expected it to operate my halogen headlights brighter than the common "sealed beams", but it didn't. After checking all wiring connections and switches, I devised a relay panel to connect the headlights directly to the battery. The stock system runs the relays, an the headlights are almost as bright as newer cars, and driving after dark is much cleared, and safe.

[tubman]

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When I needed an alternator to charge the battery on my dirt modified, I looked around and found what I needed from an outfit called "East Coast Electronics" I ended up with a one wire unit that was about 4 1/2 inches in diameter and about 5 inches long. It puts out 60 AMPS! I made a simple bracket, and it has been fine for the last 25 years.

I'd check them out.

[51504bat]

This one might work:
This is a 12 volt 90 amp single wire internal regulator alternator. Comes in plain or black:

Amazon

[Pete]

Look for racing alternators. They are small.

[5851a]

1991 through 1996 Ford Escorts and some Aerostar 3.0 engine used a small version of the Ford 3G. Internal regulator, internal fan easy 3 wire hook up. It's output was 70 amps.

[Krylon32]

I used one of the East Coast Electronics mini alternators on a 32 Ford roadster I built several years ago. I designed a lower mount and put it under the right front of the motor. Worked good.

[dad's deuce roadster]

Thanks all for the guidance thus far. I'm looking into those and am still interested in any others.

[deuce lover]

In re -reading your first post. Low cost ,short,mount on the intake and clear the first carb.Now you can get a 100 amp black alt from Summit for $99 ,then get the bracket and pulley from Speedway ( a few more bucks)and have less than $200 invested.You can then run the stock Ford fan and use the wide belt.I did just that on my '33.Here is a pic.Pic was taken before I mounted the '33 fan. I have used Whitney alt conversions on last couple cars but here it doesn't matter.French don't know or care.

[Bored&Stroked]

Well, I seemed to have that little problem of really caring about both -> FORM and FUNCTION! (Hence why I don't track the $$$ spent)

There are quite a few modern alternators that are small, can be fit in a variety of places and will put out more AMPs than an old HotRod can ever use. A lot of guys use these.

BUT when I walk up to any early HotRod with a Flathead in it . . . and I can easily see a modern alternator, well . . . the look kills it for me. I want one to LOOK as it should and generate AMPs. That is the problem as one has to pay for BOTH to get both. (Seems the way it always goes) LOL

I had a 34-generator converted by E.J. Whitney - the end result looks spot-on for an early Ford. I mounted my 32 fan on the front of it. It has a "fake" cutout on top and uses 1 wire. I've had it installed for about 5 years - not a lick of trouble with it and I frequently rev the heck out of the engine.

Not cheap . . . but I wanted BOTH.

https://ejwhitneyco.com/automotive.html

[26 lakes]

BORED&STROKED I like the way your eyes see and think. Vintage has to look vintage. It is part of the art.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by deuce lover

In re -reading your first post. Low cost ,short,mount on the intake and clear the first carb.Now you can get a 100 amp black alt from Summit for $99 ,then get the bracket and pulley from Speedway ( a few more bucks)and have less than $200 invested.You can then run the stock Ford fan and use the wide belt.I did just that on my '33.Here is a pic.Pic was taken before I mounted the '33 fan. I have used Whitney alt conversions on last couple cars but here it doesn't matter.French don't know or care.

[tubman]

Originally Posted by Bored&Stroked

Well, I seemed to have that little problem of really caring about both -> FORM and FUNCTION! (Hence why I don't track the $$$ spent)

There are quite a few modern alternators that are small, can be fit in a variety of places and will put out more AMPs than an old HotRod can ever use. A lot of guys use these.

BUT when I walk up to any early HotRod with a Flathead in it . . . and I can easily see a modern alternator, well . . . the look kills it for me. I want one to LOOK as it should and generate AMPs. That is the problem as one has to pay for BOTH to get both. (Seems the way it always goes) LOL

I had a 34-generator converted by E.J. Whitney - the end result looks spot-on for an early Ford. I mounted my 32 fan on the front of it. It has a "fake" cutout on top and uses 1 wire. I've had it installed for about 5 years - not a lick of trouble with it and I frequently rev the heck out of the engine.

Not cheap . . . but I wanted BOTH.

https://ejwhitneyco.com/automotive.html

I usually find that when a price is not listed on an ad, I can't afford the product.

[Bored&Stroked]

Originally Posted by tubman

I usually find that when a price is not listed on an ad, I can't afford the product.

Yeah, I was really trying to keep my engine looking early 40's, just couldn't put an alternator on it (though I needed the amps for my halogen bulbs). It was an expensive pill to swallow, but a REALLY nice product. I imagine there is quite a bit of labor in these very low-production products.