After 5 years I'm finally getting around to starting the project up. I'm actually strapping stuff down now and will go for a test drive next week. But I figured I would ask real quick if anyone thinks the 105 amp alternator is good enough for these fans? There's no stereo or anything in this girl. Yet though.
When I bought the fans a while back, I hooked them up to a battery just to see if they ran. Those wires got hot quick. They must really have some draw. Hopefully the flex-a-lite controller I have is good enough for them.

 

In my opinion the 105 amp CS130 alternator as installed in our 3rd gens is weak AF. Crap output at low RPMs and even crappier when the alternator gets hot.

Our 3rd gens are little Easy Bake ovens under hood.

A CS144 alternator is much better. GM used those on some cars and trucks with our style serpentine accessory drives system with a factory adaptor bracket.

I'm sure there are even better later model GM alternators that can be retrofit into our 3rd gens.

Don't be fooled by high output CS130 style alternators. They are lipstick on a pig.

 

My spal fans each needed 40 amp breakers, if you figure your ignition/efi uses 15-20, my fuel pump said up to 12amps it would quickly max out a 100 amp alt. I have a power master 165 amp in my car now and it powers all that plus my headlights/stereo. I'm sure the Ls fans don't pull what the my spals do but I bet it's still a good amount. I'm aware the largest amperage draw is when they kick on but fans still pull a bit. I'd totally upgrade that alternator.

 

Well when I had my truck, i just put a cs144 in the spot of whatever was there before. It looks like the brackets on a 130 and 144 are completely off. Does anyone have a good reputable company that makes brackets/adaptors? Preferably someone that supports thirdgen.
BTW, I put an amp clamp around the fans and controller. When the fans kicked on, it jumped to 15 amps, then slowly, over about 10 seconds, came down to about 9.5. I should have measured the stock ones. But 10 amps doesnt seem that much, unless its an alternator that only puts that out at idle.

 

I just had to replace a 130 amp one wire cs130 because it couldn't keep up with a pair of spal 1500cfm fans. Hot 950rpm idle, hot day I was dipping into the low 11 volts at lights. It would take several minutes to get back up over 13v driving. Swapped in a mechman 170a last weekend. Haven't had a chance to drive it, but idling in the garage with the AC full blast, both fans, lights, etc. Maybe got pulled down to 14.5v, pretty impressed. The mechman was shockingly heavy, like at least five pounds more than the one I replaced.

 

Whoops, the fans actually use 15 amps at 100%. They apparently only operate at 80 percent when the AC is on.
So a factory 25 amp at idle alternator with a fan's 15 amp load at the same time.

 

So the project with the fans is finished, except the alternator. With the AC on, driving around low idle, im at about 13v. When I got home it took a few hours to trickle charge back up.
So people say the cs144 is the way to go. But it doesnt line up with brackets. Does anyone know exactly what to get in order for this to work? Ive been all over youtube, summit, and other places and cant find what I need.

 

I went with a CS130D from an S10 blazer for my build. The orientation is correct and just required me to oversize the inner bracket hole and make a reinforcement bracket for the rear. They're available in 105 and 145 amp stock

 

I ended up installing a 145a AD244 for a 2003 Tahoe on the last 350 TPI I messed with. It bolted right up with some minimal grinding to the alternator case itself. I replaced the CS144 I had previously installed with the AD244.

 

So something like this

 

Hi,
Is this 15 Amps per LS1 Fan or both fans at the same time?

Thanks

 

I dont remember, and the car isnt up to driving much right now, otherwise I would test for you. But my guess is it's per fan. 15 seems low for both together, with how much air they pull.

 

And they'll probably draw 2 - 3 times whatever they run at, during their startup.

 

with today's electronics being swapped into older cars, anything with less than a 150 amp alternator wont cut it.
and dont forget to upgrade the wiring to and from the alt, 150 amps needs a 4 or 6 guage wire.

 

these are both key comments.

 

Thnx for the replies - a reminder to post project updates. Everything is installed and works good. I forget what gauge wire I used since it was last year. Maybe its a 6. Either way I dont have much of a draw other than basic electronics, lights, AC, and fans. There's no stereo or any other big draws right now.

 

did the adapter harness come with the alternator or did you have to get it seperately?

 

Looks to me alot like a batt cable you can buy at AutoZone and such. Maybe one of those "gold plated audio" ones. Maybe not. Hard to tell.

It's just WIRE after all; just strands of copper. No real mystery or any such to it.

Alternators are just ... alternators. You walk up to the counter and tell em you want an alternator for whatever vehicle with whatever options. KG3 is the RPO for the high output alt in trucks, which is what that one is. Comes in a box. All by itself. Looks like an alt. Nothing else. Gotta use your BRAIMS beyond what's in the box.

 

Makes sense, Thank you
I am leaning towards a brushless setup to reduce the amperage load

What Alternator setup did you go with? I have a CS144 140AMP that requires minimal trimming to make fit but was curious of your pics.

Thanks,
- Benny

 

Its part 8237603 and is for early 2000 GM trucks. So like 1999-2002 4.3, 5.3, 6.0, etc. I think even the later 350s used them also after 2000. Like the vans that didnt get the LS motors till a few years later.
Trimming was very little with it. Maybe just half a millimeter and it sat in perfectly. And then the 1 wire harness I think I picked up from autozone or somewhere.

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/elec...ok-plunge.html

Some details on installation and what's required...

 

It sounds like its more of a direct fit while the CS144 requires opening the side hole about 1/8 for proper fitment however the CS144 is 140 AMP and is plug and play. They each have their benefits it seems.

I should add the rear brace does not fit and new support brace will need to be fabbed up although I see many owners simply leave it off.

- Benny