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

57 sedan

60 thunderbird

69 mustang coupe

69 roadrunner

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.

Kenneth

Fredricksburg, Texas

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.


Lawrenceville, GA

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.

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

  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

Royal Oak, Michigan (Four miles north of Detroit, and 12 miles NORTH of Windsor, Canada).  That's right, we're north of Canada.

Ford 292 Y-Block major overhaul by simplyconnected

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.

He just said he didn't want to use a 1 wire GM setup ...

Doing Fords for 45 years. '56 Customline Victoria

E.J. in Havana FL

if you dont mind where did you get the converstion kit?

57 sedan

60 thunderbird

69 mustang coupe

69 roadrunner

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

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

Royal Oak, Michigan (Four miles north of Detroit, and 12 miles NORTH of Windsor, Canada).  That's right, we're north of Canada.

Ford 292 Y-Block major overhaul by simplyconnected

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.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"