I want to upgrade my alt. on my 86 becuase it's a stock 78 amp unit.

I could go w/ an 86 Iroc alt. which would be bolt-in & around 106amps(?)

I feel that I need more than the 78 w/ the fuel pump & injectors & aftermarket electric fan going.

Any other bolt-in solutions I should look at? I prefer AC Delco...

 

Okay so the parts book at Ye Olde GM parts source didn't list LB9 alternator for 86 so I took home an 87 LB9 alt. & the matching pigtail. A friend who has done this before sez all I need is the tube for the lower pivot bolt (or the GM bracket) & to wire it up.

I also got a battery so I could limp my 87 home (wasn't charging) so now I shall put 86 battery in 87, drive 87 home, put 87 battery in 86 to charge it up good, and use new battery in 83 which has a new alternator. Assuming the 87's alternator is bad, I'll put the 86's olde alt. in it, since the 86 needed more juice anyway.

I hear an echo

 

Oh yeah. Since I'm bored...

the 87 & 86-down alts. have their mounting lugs at a 180 degree difference between the two. The 88-92 F-body ones do not have them at a 180 degree difference, but I think they're basically the same as the 87 ones.

:lala:

So, I'm happy that I'll get my friggin' black car home so I can figure out if it's alt. is bad (screw it, a spare is not a bad thing to have and the 86 needed upgraded) and then I am taking the 86 in for an alignment tomorrow AM. Gotta go grab my front wheels w/ good tires from Chris's house (can you say CORDS! )

and posting from work is

 

I guess you wanted a reply?

The 88-up are totally different, no similarities. The spacing if it were 180 would be less than your stock alternator by about 1" IIRC. The design of the alternator itself is way different.

 

The police issue alternator is 114 amps... you may have to search the catalog a bit. The basic design of the alternators is the same... you will need to change the pulley to fit your setup as I did.

Don't forget that the higher the amperage the more parasitic loss (hp required to run) you will have.

You'll need alot of electronics to require over 100 amps.

 

police models also have a higher idle speed to improve charging

alternators are very efficent at converting mechanical energy to electrical energy. not much parasitic loss from an alternator.

there is a good reason why many auto manufacturers are looking at electric oil pumps, electric power steering racks, and various other electric goodies.