Frank - try to set-up your question as a new topic! Somehow it ended up tacked onto this thread about alternators................

Temp will depend on the outdoor ambient - and what equipment is installed on your vehicle.
My T-bird runs about 100ºF over whatever the outside temperature is - right down to the thermostat setting. So on 100º day, engine water temp = 200º.
Sedan radiators are bigger and will run cooler than that.

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona

What is the normal operating temperature for a 312 y-block v-8?

I used this setup on my '55 bird. Very easy, straightforward installation, no problem so far (2Kmi on the car).

When you are ready to do brakes I can recommend a good source for a booster/master cylinder.Not OEM style but the more conventional style with a dual Master cylinder.The OEM style kits can be purchased through a couple of suppliers.Lots of money though.Concours Auto sells the complete kit for $735.00

  

Right now an alternator is lower on the list of things to do but worthwhile. My current priority is installing a B manifold along with a good carb. After that a conversion to disc brakes along with an OEM type power booster will be next. Somewhere along the line I need to get the gas gauge to work right.

~DJ~ AKA "Bleach"
1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan 30K original miles

56 Fairlane I am glad to see you are thinking of the conventional type alternator rather than the one wire type that many are using.The compalaint with the one wire type seems to be it does not charge the battery as much as it supplies electrical when the car is running.Just my opinion but I will be looking at the same type you are when the time comes.I know you are aware you need a alternator type regulator.I think I would make up a new wiring harness from the alt-regulator.

  

Makes sense, especially when converting to 12V.

~DJ~ AKA "Bleach"
1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan 30K original miles

For me I'm going from 6v in the '55 to 12v so it just seemed easier to get a 12v alternator. (I didn't have a generator anyway).

Mark

1956 Mercury M100
1955 Ford Fairlane Club Sedan
Delta, British Columbia

Generators don't seem to last anymore. I went through several rebuilds, from different rebuilders and they all failed in an unreasonable amount of time. I couldn't find anything wrong anywhere. I don't know if it is the skill, or parts or a combination of the two that just isn't available to rebuild them reliably. I switched to an alternator, and nearly 10 years later, no problems whatsoever with the charging system.



It was the same story with starters. The original style, rebuilt wouldn't last. Went with the new aftermarket one from Autoelec, also about 10 years ago and no more starter problems.


Lawrenceville, GA

Two reasons come quickly to mind... excessive idling. An alternator will charge and give a good supply at idle whereas a generator is almost non-existent. The other would be the addition of accessories that increase the need for Amps across the board at any one given time while you try to recharge your battery also.

google a guy named Randy Rundle or Fifth Avenue Electric... great stuff.

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com