hey guys, does anyone know where I can get a higher amp alternator?

I looked at one at MVP but their like $500.

Thanks

 

any GOOD brand of an alternator that is worth buying will be up around $1000. (Ohio Generator was one of the best before selling out), the cheapest bet would be to another Lex with the same housing and more amperage and swap it. OR find another factory alt with more amperage and have someone swap the guts... (thats what I did)

Why do you need to upgrade the alternator? If you want better charging, have you tried doing the "Big Three" yet? helps a ton with charging!

 

wut's the big three?

 

Its a car audio thing, but works for any application... It upgrades all the factory wiring in the charge system. Remember, power runs around wire not through it. Factory wires have thick wires and maybe like 40 strands, and dont get me started with the factory grounds with the braded wire. So upgrading with car audio wiring is great. factory I believe uses like 6awg wire. 4 awg of a good car audio wire would be fine which in most cases have like 20,000 strands. I did the big three with all 0awg wire which have 75,000 strands! over kill? maybe, but it works! LoL


The Big Three

1) Upgrade ground from battery to chassis
2) Upgrade power wire from battery to alternator
3) Upgrade all the grounds on block (e.i. block to firewall; block to frame/chassis)


First thing I noticed (before upgrading L.E.D's in interior) was that the lights were much brighter.

The Big Three helps the charging system to be more effective.

 

I'm planning for my future alternator rebuild ... can I ask which internals you had put into your OEM alt housing, and how many amps it is cranking out now ?

Everyone mentions this as an option for a high output alternator but never gives the details.

Thanks,

DaveC

 

Well in my case I bought a 200amp alternator, but the alternator that was sent to me was not for my car, so I had it swapped out. with a normal sized pulley it now generates 140amps (or 150 I dont remember) and with the smaller pulley they supplied it should still generate 200amps. Kinda weird how they did that. It handles a 200amp draw, but they give you a pulley for it to draw less with the option of doing the ladder. I kind of like the idea (saves the alt from being wide open). I'm yet to use the smaller pulley.

 

Stinger makes one for the GS as well around $700

 

Wow, can you guys send me that other $500 that you're spending. :~D Unless you're trying to win an audio competition a 200 amp alternator is overkill imo.

For most basic audio upgrades, 120 amps should be more than sufficient

I had mine rebuilt

Lincoln Town Cars use the EXACT same internals as the GS alternator and can be swapped out for $150 or less at any rebuild shop.

 

I've heard that under stress they melt themselves!

 

you have to remember that 120 amps is ONLY while RPM's are at 2000. at idle it would only be at like 80amps or so.... (not that thats not enough...)

 

I'm probably just gonna swap out, what alternators did you guys use? I heard I can use one from a Sienna, i've never heard about the Lincoln alternator before... please elaborate. Thanks.

 

I forget where i found the link on here....but i emailed and got a quote back for a 200A bolt in alternator for less than $400 shipped. The only thing he suggested would be to upgrade the charge wire from battery to alt with a 4ga wire. Yes in some applications 200A is overkill,but it's nice to have with big audio set-ups. Oh and he also said he'd put on an overdrive (smaller) pulley to spin that alt faster at idle. I'll try and find the link. The "Big Three" as stated earlier does help tons too. I've never heard of a $1000 alt before either. I have a couple of buddys who run a lot of electrical equipment
in Chevy Suburbans with dual and triple alts....some 250a-350a each...Leece Neville i believe is the manufacturer. Those are usually run on Semis or Tractors. And those cost them i think around $500-$700 each?? Anyway,check your local yellow pages and see who rebuilds alts...i'm sure someone local can beef it up. Good luck!

 

Agreed

My mechanic was the one who told me about it. The Town Car stock alternator is either 120 or 130 amps and the internals are a direct swap with the GS housing. I paid him to do the swap overnight and did the install myself.

There's absolutely no reason to spend $500 on an alternator. If you feel you need 200amps, then by all means go for it. But if you've only done mild upgrades, then there's no need for 200 amps.

I'm pushing

12.5 sub
Amp
9.2 inch headrests
Nav Converter
A/B switch
DVD player

and have no dimming lights, or electrical issues anymore.

I do recommend the 'Big Three' as stated by 99GSThree though, I've done it.

 

I'm running two TRUE 1000 watt amps and 500 watt amp drawing 250amps so what do you think? but I dont think any one has ever said theres TOO much on an electrical system. not to mention, no matter what amprage the alternator is, its still costs the same (for after market) its all about quality. (dam it, I wish I remembered the tech on alts) theres a difference between a factory alt and an after market one. has to do with efficiency and effectiveness...

 

I think www.hearingaids.com is in your future

Aftermarket was hit or miss for me when I was doing my research and I take a lot of road trips so I wanted something reliable.