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By 2X57SEDAN - 16 Years Ago
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hey guys ony 60 t-bird i would like to switch from the generator to an alternator with as little cut and paste as possible on another site they tell me i have to cut the stock brakets and do all this fancy stuff then buy a GM one wire alt my engine is a 352 by the way well im kind of a purist i want to use ford parts on my ford so my question is cant i just go into a parts store and tell them i need an alternator for say a 63 galaxie with a 390 and then come home and cut a few wires and hook them to the right terminals and be done with it? the reason i used a 63 galaxie with a390 in it is because i was looking at the alternator /pully system on one at a cruise in tonight (it looked very simular and an easy converstion) my main thing is getting the wires in the right places and all im not worried about originallity
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By crenwelge - 16 Years Ago
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The simplest way to hook up a 1 wire is to the post on the starter solenoid that has the cable coming from the battery. It is a good idea of putting a fusible link of about 25% more than your alternator puts out. That keeps wires from burning in case something goes wrong.
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By charliemccraney - 16 Years Ago
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A 352 is an FE. FE's had alternators. It seems like you could pick up the required brackets at a local parts store. The only Issue I see may be pulley alignment. Unless there is some major difference between early and late FE's.
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By paul2748 - 16 Years Ago
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A junk yard would be a good source to get the brackets and a core alternator. As far as wiring changes go, I can't help you but I'm sure someone else here can.
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By simplyconnected - 16 Years Ago
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2X57SEDAN (5/15/2009)
hey guys ony 60 t-bird i would like to switch from the generator to an alternator with as little cut and paste as possible on another site they tell me i have to cut the stock brakets and do all this fancy stuff then buy a GM one wire alt my engine is a 352 by the way well im kind of a purist i want to use ford parts on my ford Me too. My '55 272 and my '59 292 used the identical brackets. I didn't cut either one. To mount it, I bought some threaded rod (SAE not metric) and used a small pipe and two washers as a spacer. I did add a small "Z" bracket to the bottom bracket, which allowed me to use my original generator belt. I made the bracket on a vise. It wasn't hard.I'm all about going to a junk yard and using inexpensive oem parts, but I always change the "scheduled maintenance" parts before I install. A new Motorcraft brush holder with new brushes costs under $12. (Good for another 150,000 miles.) Everyone has Motorcraft parts. I thank GM for the 1-wire alt. Many hotrods were made possible by them. But the 3-wire Ford (and other brands including GM) alt is much better for your system for a host of reasons. Please go to this site where it is debated in depth: One-Wire---Three Wire You Be the Judge by Mark Hamilton You don't need fancy conversion kits or wire harnesses with Ford alternators. Both plugs are usually attached to the alt from the junk yard, or you can buy plug-in's from just about anywhere. No need to buy anything special. I used a 75-amp '90 Mustang self-regulating alt, but you can use later models. The 75 outputs more than plenty for me. One big concern is, I don't want to pump 100-amps into a dead battery if I leave my lights on overnight away from home. All the Ford alternators have the same shaft and will accept pulleys from just about any year. If you don't have one, lookup an alternator shop. They have hundreds. My shop charged me $10 to change my pulley and gave the old one back to me. I believe you saw my pics on the other thread. Hope this helps. - Dave
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By Nat Santamaria - 16 Years Ago
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I replaced my alternator on my 57 Bird last summer because of constant generator failures. It was a very easy conversion kit using the stock bracket. I had to swap the some of the wiring connections at the external voltage regulator as to by-pass it. It came with wiring instructions - no cutting of stock wiring. Some guys take out the fender mounted regulator. I left mine in using it as a terminal to hook up the wiring and keeps the original look. The alternator is also black so it does not stand out. It puts out 105 amps. I bought the alternator at Casco. It is about $200.00.
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By ejstith - 16 Years Ago
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crenwelge (5/15/2009)
The simplest way to hook up a 1 wire is to the post on the starter solenoid that has the cable coming from the battery. It is a good idea of putting a fusible link of about 25% more than your alternator puts out. That keeps wires from burning in case something goes wrong.
He just said he didn't want to use a 1 wire GM setup ...
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By 2X57SEDAN - 16 Years Ago
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Nat Santamaria (5/17/2009)
I replaced my alternator on my 57 Bird last summer because of constant generator failures. It was a very easy conversion kit using the stock bracket. I had to swap the some of the wiring connections at the external voltage regulator as to by-pass it. It came with wiring instructions - no cutting of stock wiring. Some guys take out the fender mounted regulator. I left mine in using it as a terminal to hook up the wiring and keeps the original look. The alternator is also black so it does not stand out. It puts out 105 amps. I bought the alternator at Casco. It is about $200.00.if you dont mind where did you get the converstion kit?
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By simplyconnected - 16 Years Ago
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Nat got his at Casco: 
| ALTERNATOR INSTALL KIT-12 VOLT | | Part# | ALTKIT | Description | ALTERNATOR INSTALL KIT-12 VOLT All of the items you need to convert your T-Bird to a modern alternator. With instructions. 12 volt.
| Info | 1 kit/car | Year | 1956-1957 | Pkg | KIT | Price | $206.90 |
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They are also available on eBay with a warranty, and for less money: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Alternator-conversion-for-Y-block-or-55-57-Thunderbirds_W0QQitemZ250425122118QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item3a4e801d46&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318 Hope this helps. - Dave
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 16 Years Ago
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Dave: 2X57SEDAN is wanting to change to an alternator on his car, which from his internet name suggests he has a SEDAN. You should have advised him that the mounting location and pulley location is different between sedans and Birds, and the Casco Kit would probably not fit without alteration.
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By simplyconnected - 16 Years Ago
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2X57SEDAN (5/15/2009)
hey guys ony 60 t-bird i would like to switch from the generator to an alternator with as little cut and paste as possible... John, I would have but he simply asked where Nat got his kit. Judging from the original post, I took that to mean, for his '60 T-bird (a very fine car, I might add). - Dave
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 16 Years Ago
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Dave; Sorry, I failed to re-read his fist post. John
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By 2X57SEDAN - 16 Years Ago
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Hoosier Hurricane (5/18/2009)
Dave: 2X57SEDAN is wanting to change to an alternator on his car, which from his internet name suggests he has a SEDAN. You should have advised him that the mounting location and pulley location is different between sedans and Birds, and the Casco Kit would probably not fit without alteration. actually i do have a 57 sedan but this question is about my 1960 thunderbird with a 352 thanks for tryin to make sure i get the right info hurricane ok would the wiring part of this kit be the same? i see on the ebay link it says for the 55-57 t-birds with a y-block ill worry about what mounts and things i need later my main concern is the wiring
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By simplyconnected - 16 Years Ago
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Wiring is easier than using a generator. The original three wires came from your voltage regulator (Armature, Field, and Ground). Eliminate the whole harness. The generator only put out ~35-amps, now your new alternator puts out 75-105 amps depending on which one you use. Please examine the diagram from my '90 Mustang, and notice two plugs (C153 & C154). They plug into the side of this (typical Ford) 75-amp alternator. The heavy wires all go to Battery Plus, and the other wire (Light Green w/Red #904) powers your "GEN" light in case you throw a belt. If you don't have a GEN light, hook this to your Ignition wire, either at the coil +12, or at your key switch. 
You can remove your (regulator, short ground jumper, and capacitor). Connect the old regulator's Batt wire to your horn relay (should be right next to the regulator). If you extend the new alternator wires, use #6AWG copper wire to your starter solenoid (battery side). Be sure your engine has a good ground to battery, as close to the starter motor as possible. Hope this helps. - Dave
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