Alternator recommendation

[Tophatjimmy]

Re: Alternator recommendation

I was told that the CS-130 alternators (stock) in 85 or 105A form provide about 35-40A at idle.

The CS-144 on the other hand, provides upwards of 70A at idle or more depending on which model it is.

Plus being larger in case size, the bearings don't seize up as much since the larger case dissipates the heat so much better than the small case CS-130.

The CS-144 is a better all around alternator if you can fit it in.

 

[Flyin Ryan]

Re: Alternator recommendation

dunno about all this, all i know is that my cs144 140 amp alt that's two years old from alternatorparts.com does not have issues at idle with charge. It came with the same size pulley my stock alt had and by grounding the alt case to the frame I gained .5 volt not a full volt sorry I had to go back and double check my records.

On the alt's that put out more amps in the higher rpm, couldn't you just under drive it with a smaller pulley? I've been doing that effectively for the last three years on my daily driven mustang and it's 140 amp 3g alt with no issues.

 

[TYTILIDIE]

Re: Alternator recommendation

Im saying, it works, works well so who cares about all of the negative "maybe's". You're just steering people away from doing something that is a cheap and EASY fix to a common problem.

 

[midnightbluS10]

Re: Alternator recommendation

Im saying, it works, works well so who cares about all of the negative "maybe's". You're just steering people away from doing something that is a cheap and EASY fix to a common problem.

More like giving people information to make an educated decision rather than doing it because so-n-so did it and it worked for them.


:dunno:

 

[It's just a six]

Re: Alternator recommendation

I saw these notes on another forum:
CS-130 idle output roughly 25-40 amps, and most GM units were 100 or 105 amps at 6K rotor RPM's.
CS-130D puts out roughly 50-65 at idle, and most were 100 or 105 amp at 6K rotor RPM's.
CS-144 puts out roughly 70-90 amps at idle, and most are rated at 140 RPM's at 4-5k rotor RPM's.
Incorrect specs?

Our engines stock are low RPM engines, the cars & trucks that come w/the CS-144 alternators seems to be low RPM engines also & the V-8 crank pulley seems to be the same size as our V-6 pulleys. So if the factory beefed up the charging system on those low RPM engines by installing a CS-144 alternator it's hard for me to think of a reason not to upgrade to the larger unit.
Other than it weighs a couple lbs more than stock.

What is the charging output of the CS-144 alternator @ idle as compared to the stock unit?
Or are these some random number tossed out there?
Did they use the same size pulleys? 2000 RPM is alternator RPM?

Just curious.

Are these the exact two alternators we are discussing here?
12 Volt Alternators ...Small Case 105A
RPM Cold/Hot
2000 98/87

12 Volt Alternators ...Large Case 140A
RPM Cold/Hot
2000 35/33

 

[It's just a six]

Re: Alternator recommendation

Update I bought a new China CS-144 alternator from Pep Boys for a 1998 Chevy Suburban 2500 w/a 5.7 V-8.

First thing I had to do was mill nearly all the the extended lug on the backof the alternator that a bolt goes though the metal bracket that bolts to the exhaust manifold & attaches the power steering pump..

I had opened the mounting holes to 1/2". The bolt pattern did not match up.

I could tell the alternator is a bit higher than the stock alternator & the stock belt barely fit.

Also added new larger lugs to the positive wires, stock lugs are too small.

All done & it's charging:tup:,,, but for sure, it was not a direct bolt-on. At least it was not in my case.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/boostedpimp/syty%20shizle/Alt%20upgrade/stockerandcs-144sized.jpg[/IMG]

 

[NJSERRANO]

Re: Alternator recommendation

Did you take any pics of the "work" that had to be done? I really want this, but I want to make sure that I have everything to handle the job without making a bunch of trips to autozone.

 

[Flyin Ryan]

Re: Alternator recommendation

Update I bought a new China CS-144 alternator from Pep Boys for a 1998 Chevy Suburban 2500 w/a 5.7 V-8.

First thing I had to do was mill nearly all the the extended lug on the backof the alternator that a bolt goes though the metal bracket that bolts to the exhaust manifold & attaches the power steering pump..

I had opened the mounting holes to 1/2". The bolt pattern did not match up.

I could tell the alternator is a bit higher than the stock alternator & the stock belt barely fit.

Also added new larger lugs to the positive wires, stock lugs are too small.

All done & it's charging:tup:,,, but for sure, it was not a direct bolt-on. At least it was not in my case.

All I had to do was open the mounting whole up a little on the alt bracket and add a larger lug connector to fit the back of the alt. I didn't have to trim anything from the alt at all. Belt is tough to get on but it did fit

 

[blacktyaffair]

Re: Alternator recommendation

More like giving people information to make an educated decision rather than doing it because so-n-so did it and it worked for them.


:dunno:

I'll take a sytyer's first hand account over speculation any day. :tup:

 

[midnightbluS10]

Re: Alternator recommendation

I'll take a sytyer's first hand account over speculation any day. :tup:

Speculation? :roll: being presented with facts first hand is hardly speculation.

I'm just playing devils advocate here. I dont have a dog in this race, so...

 

[blacktyaffair]

Re: Alternator recommendation

Speculation? :roll: being presented with facts first hand is hardly speculation.

I'm just playing devils advocate here. I dont have a dog in this race, so...

I don't have a pooch in this race either. :rotf:

Maybe I missed something, but I didn't read anything about actually running the bigger alt, testing it and getting lower output readings.

What I did read was running the bigger alt and working out pretty well by multiple people. Usually what works for most, works for me. :tup:

I'd love to hear about a bigger alt not performing to par after install. Anything is possible. Too bad I just replaced my alt with an oem spec...:rant:

 

[It's just a six]

Re: Alternator recommendation

All I had to do was open the mounting whole up a little on the alt bracket and add a larger lug connector to fit the back of the alt. I didn't have to trim anything from the alt at all.

The bolt that secures to the back of the alternator, do you have a metal bracket on the back side of the alternator?

There are a total of three bolts that holds the alternator in place.

 

[It's just a six]

Re: Alternator recommendation

Did you take any pics of the "work" that had to be done? I really want this, but I want to make sure that I have everything to handle the job without making a bunch of trips to autozone.

I did not take any pics, but I could if needed.

You would need a longer bolt that mounts the inboard part of the alternator. I used a 5/16 bolt.
You also need a larger bolt that mounts the back of the alternator metric size I think it was a 8.8 MM? That it where I had to mill down the mounting pad.

You also need larger eyelet terminals for the positive wires. I crimped them on & soldered them for a good connection.

Terminal nut uses a 14 MM wrench/socket, stud is approx .300-.330" range.
As mentioned before, I drilled the alternator mounting holes to 1/2" . Bolt pattern is off.

 

[It's just a six]

Re: Alternator recommendation

[QUOTE

[/QUOTE]

You see in this pic, the positive terminal? Look 180 degrees opposite of this terminal, that is the the back mounting point, approx 10-o-clock position, I had to mill this down along with the two little mounting pads for the internal screws go to.

Hope that makes sense.

 

[Flyin Ryan]

Re: Alternator recommendation

You see in this pic, the positive terminal? Look 180 degrees opposite of this terminal, that is the the back mounting point, approx 10-o-clock position, I had to mill this down along with the two little mounting pads for the internal screws go to.

Hope that makes sense.

I'll take a pic of mine. I didn't have any metal bracket of any kind with my alt.

 

[Treymen]

Re: Alternator recommendation

Without reading all 3 pages of this thread, what is the smallest diameter alt that fits? I was looking at the black GM 180amp ones because they are much smaller than stock. Any thoughts on fitment?

 

[NJSERRANO]

Re: Alternator recommendation

Thanks for the info. My optima is getting drained quickly. It was at 2% when checked at autozone. We put it on the charger for 30 minutes and got it up to 62%. I drove it around for an hour and a half. We rechecked it, showing only 16%. The alternator was only reading 13.7, so I'm looking at a new alternator and/or removing my lovely alarm with remote start and express up/down window switches .
I hope it's just an alternator so I can do the cs144 upgrade. I will document the upgrade. Pick U Part is having a 1/2 off sale this weekend, so I'll grab a bracket and alternator, and hopefully find the most direct bolt-on upgrade.

 

[Throws]

Re: Alternator recommendation

Interesting...The Full-Size Chevy guys call this the "Big 3" upgrade for voltage issues...

http://www.gmt400.com/forum/showthread.php?214-Electrical-Upgrade-Overkill...&highlight=upgrade

-P

 

[TYTILIDIE]

Re: Alternator recommendation

Also,

Couldn't stay away huh?! They never can:rotf:

 

[ty.miggy]

Re: Alternator recommendation

Hey guys I'm interested in this upgrade since I am having some alternator issues. Im wondering if our trucks' alternator bracket is the same as one found in a regular s10/15? just in case I ruin it somehow.