Hi guys.. I was wondering if there's a "garden variety" alternator, (i.e. Commodore or Falcon), than can be easily modified for my 93 V8 Disco, (with the V-Belt and not the Serpentine.)
I've gone through 2 alternators in the last few years and was looking for a cheaper alternative this time...
Not a direct swap, but the good thing with Bosch stuff is that parts are so easy to get that this one will certainly outlast most other things on the vehicle.
The one I used is from a 1994 V6 Magna Verada. Still running perfectly nearly 3 years later.
The easiest to find and easiest to adapt used to be XE-XF Falcon, they have a small round output pin suitable to run the tach. Other models will probably require you to go inside and solder a wire to a field winding solder joint. Later Falcons run quite high current ratings, up to 110 amp. Any competent sparky should be able to set a good one up for you.
Looks pretty similar to my '86 Classic. The old Lucas died in Denham and the local auto-elec reckoned they were crap anyway. He replaced it with this Bosch one, which he said was common or garden variety Ford and you could get one anywhere. That was 5 years ago and still going strong. Alternator is Bosch BXF 1254. Had to lengthen the adjuster arm by welding an extension on to it.
Anything with an A127 pattern, but just be careful of the pin placement at the back. Mine comes from a Massey Ferguson which is mounted on the other side and I now have 5mm between the pins and rocker cover! Can solve with a slightly longer belt though to push it out more.
Just finished putting a Bosch alternator back on to a 3.5 Rangie efi that I did the head gaskets on. The pic shows the lower mounting of the alternator, I fitted it this way because the belt was being frayed by the fan when the alternator was mounted further forward. There is a notch filed in the alternator leg to get it to swing. I also had to change the pulley because of alignment.
The terminal which runs the auto choke on the Falcon is a small round pin, I made a terminal for it by trimming a blue crimp joiner, and crimped it to the wire. Tacho seems to be accurate enough.
There is a brace bar on the front bolt: this stops the alternator bracket cracking and falling off. I have seen that too often. The lower end of the brace bolts on to the timing cover lower left, on the long 5/16 bolt which holds the timing cover on.
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