Which door to pick, door #1, #2, or #3
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 613
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From: Dubuque, IA
Car: 2006 'Nox 91 Camaro RS 91 1500 Silv
Engine: GM 3.8L, 305 SBC, 350 SBC
Transmission: Auto, auto, auto
Which door to pick, door #1, #2, or #3
OK guys, I've swapped on my underdrive pulley and am beginning to have charging problems...I only did the crank pulley, but I'm still having the charging problems. Anyways...the way I see it there's 3 choices
#1: Swap back to the original pulley
#2: Get a higher output alternator
#3: Dump the junk from the trunk (subs and amp and box).
At the moment I'm favoring choice #3 because I can live without the subs.
What do you guys think
#1: Swap back to the original pulley
#2: Get a higher output alternator
#3: Dump the junk from the trunk (subs and amp and box).
At the moment I'm favoring choice #3 because I can live without the subs.
What do you guys think
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Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Moorpark
Car: 1991 CAMARO 1968 FIREBIRD
Engine: CAMARO 3.1L FIREBIRD 455
Transmission: CAMARO 700R4 FIREBIRD TH-400
A highput alternator wont help no matter what you do. Dont worry about it i jsut have a 110 amp alt with just the crank pully. and at idle im putting out 12.5 volts then when i drive it goes to around 14 then at night it chills around 13 volts
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Joined: Jul 2001
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From: BFE, MD
Car: 13 Ram 1500/ 78 Formy
Engine: 5.7 / 7.4
Transmission: 6sp / TH350
Axle/Gears: 3.55 posi / 3.23
raise thw idle rpms a little, just enough to keep the alt charging, also get the charging system tested. Might be a bad alt, battery, or both. Doyou have a capacitor for the subs?
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From: So.west IN
Car: 87 Formula/ 00 Xtreme
Engine: TPI 305/ v6
Transmission: struggling t-5/ 4l60E
Axle/Gears: 3.08/ 3.23
If you are basing the problem by watching the gauge in the car, don't. If possible, rig a voltmeter to the batter ot the output of the alternator to watch what is truely happening with charging voltage while you take a short test drive.
Danno has some good knowledge about alternators.
posted by danno.
... keep in mind a higher output alt will have LESS output at idle than a lower one. Alt manufacturers design the pulley size to get it throttled up around 1k rpms. If you want more output at idle you can simply purchase an undersize pulley. The drawbacks are this, with a smaller pulley the brushes may wear a little faster and you will remove some HP at the lower rpm. A typical alt when it's close to full output can use as much as 7-9hp to spin it. www.alternatorparts.com carries pulleys and kits to repair and upgrade most popular alternators. I have a 105 in my 89 and with everything running at idle the voltage drops somewhat, but in reality it's not a problem. The guage is not exactly accurate and when it says a little below 13 volts its actually 13.5-13.8 when measured at the battery. Unless you are having trouble maintaining the battery at at least 80% of capacity I would leave it be.
... keep in mind a higher output alt will have LESS output at idle than a lower one. Alt manufacturers design the pulley size to get it throttled up around 1k rpms. If you want more output at idle you can simply purchase an undersize pulley. The drawbacks are this, with a smaller pulley the brushes may wear a little faster and you will remove some HP at the lower rpm. A typical alt when it's close to full output can use as much as 7-9hp to spin it. www.alternatorparts.com carries pulleys and kits to repair and upgrade most popular alternators. I have a 105 in my 89 and with everything running at idle the voltage drops somewhat, but in reality it's not a problem. The guage is not exactly accurate and when it says a little below 13 volts its actually 13.5-13.8 when measured at the battery. Unless you are having trouble maintaining the battery at at least 80% of capacity I would leave it be.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 613
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From: Dubuque, IA
Car: 2006 'Nox 91 Camaro RS 91 1500 Silv
Engine: GM 3.8L, 305 SBC, 350 SBC
Transmission: Auto, auto, auto
Ok, I just ran it at idle for a little while with the subs cranked, defroster on, a/c on, lights on, and interior lights on. And although it was low...it never even went into the red on the guage....and since I gather the guage reads high, it sounds like I'll be alright
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From: AR
Car: 1991 Camaro RS Vert
Engine: 350 S-TPI
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: GU5/G80/J65
Well, how large is the amp?? If its 400-500 watts or bigger, take the crank pully back off.
If its 400 or below, odds are your alt was not in prime shape in first place, and needs rebuilt.
Any belt slippage? The size belt on asp site was loose on my engine, and I dropped down 1/2 size more so that it would quit slipping.
If its 400 or below, odds are your alt was not in prime shape in first place, and needs rebuilt.
Any belt slippage? The size belt on asp site was loose on my engine, and I dropped down 1/2 size more so that it would quit slipping.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 613
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From: Dubuque, IA
Car: 2006 'Nox 91 Camaro RS 91 1500 Silv
Engine: GM 3.8L, 305 SBC, 350 SBC
Transmission: Auto, auto, auto
K...I tested it with a tester at the battery like deadbird said, and the lowest the battery ever goes is 12volts. Thats what is supposed to be right?
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