I was thinking of theoretical ways to reduce the load on the engine's accessories, the answer I came up with was to run electric accessories with a bigger alternator. Though I'm not 100% sure it would work so I figured I'd run it by other people first. Could I just run a 300 amp alternator and replace the ac compressor, water pump, and power steering pump to improve the amount of power that can actually be used by the wheels? Would the drag from the alternator under such load be the same or worse than having all the components driven from the pulleys? Would the cost and effort be worth the gain from the setup? If some accessories would make sense to setup this way and others it wouldn't make as much sense, which ones and why? I look forward to input!

 

“Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be changed from one form to another.” (Albert Einstein).

 

Yeah, I'm very aware of that quote. The point was to use a more efficient means of producing said energy so that the net load on the engine would be reduced.

 

The only advantage you would get is when you weren't using whatever accessory , like AC in the winter, there would be no drag on the system then. You would have to go to electrically driven accessories for the various systems which would cost lots, take much engineering, probably add weight, and lots of your time and effort to re-invent. I say WAY too much work but it's your time and money. If you decide to do it, keep us informed.

 

I can’t imagine with the weight of components, complexity expense and lack of availability would provide you with a desirable result.

50-60% efficiency from an alternator is average. Losses have to be considered for each of the motors, maybe 75%.

Some thoughts on alternator efficiencies from the mothership.

https://www.delcoremy.com/documents/...ite-paper.aspx

 

That's what I was figuring too, but I wanted some thoughts on it.

 

Yeah I was concerned with the price of parts to do it as well. And if I were to do it, I'd encounter the issue of not being able to walk into a store and buy the parts off the shelf since the whole setup would be custom. The alternator efficiency was also worrying. Thanks for the paper.

 

What is your motor setup and what are the goals you are trying to accomplish? Is it a specific 1/4 time or dyno #?

 

Taking a look at how auto manufacturers are currently (no pun intended) doing exactly what you propose---for example, electrical power steering assist and computer-control of the charging system--- will provide insight into how to reduce the engine's load, thus increasing its fuel mileage.

 

Stock L98 for now. It wasn't really to gain power as much as it was to lessen the load on the engine. Yeah it'd possibly help 1/4 time or dyno #s but the end goal was higher efficiency from the engine. I daily my car and the thought was that I could get a bit more power and a bit more fuel economy out of it at the same time. I've got a T56 swap going in soon and it'll be a long ways out before I can start making power. I was really just tossing out the idea as a hypothetical and to try to do research on the idea before setting my heart on anything.

 

Yeah, that's part of where I got the idea. I just didn't know if it'd be feasible on an older car as a method of reducing the load to anything substantial. And if so which parts would be best to change to electric. I feel like AC would be an easy one but power steering and water pump are where I'm confused about if it's worthwhile to pursue on an older car.

 

Manufacturers went to all that trouble and engineering expense in order to gain a few percentage points of increased fuel economy in order to meet ever-tightening EPA regs. For them, the small ROI is worth it, especially since they simply pass on the cost to us. For a 3rd gen owner, probably not so much.

Putting on an electric water pump isn't really expensive or difficult but wouldn't save much engine power in a daily driver. Adapting an electric-assisted rack/pinion would be a major job, as would trying to find a way to power an AC compressor with an electric motor (which would put that much more load on the alternator). Just thinking out loud here, but IMO, just not practical for a 3rd gen.