Alternator upgrade? What app?

[whisperer]

2.9 Alternator upgrade - what Application?

My alt is getting shaky, (weird problems with extreme cold) and I want to install something better anyway. After searching I'm getting conflicting info. My '90 2.9L is a different case design then the 4.0L? is there a direct retrofit to something better?

I can certainly go with something bigger/better and do the conversion myself and figure it out but I'd sure rather just bolt on something that plugs in instead.

 

[whisperer]

Ha, answering my own post.....

My Alt quit totally last night at 3AM and -8 degrees outside, (great timing).

I'm only posting this to help somebody else in a jam and will still upgrade at first opportunity.

My symptoms were the volt gauge at 12V (7 o'clock position) when starting cold and wouldn't jump up to 14/15 until I got some RPM's. This has been happening off and on for a week or 2. It got progressively worse until last night when it just wouldn't charge at all. Not good, I live 20 miles out.

I have a car shop in town and went directly there, thinking I'd just drive my FS Bronco home. Nope, flat tire, can't fix, long other story.

I pulled the Ranger alt and pulled the regulator off, 4 1/4" bolts. The brushes were worn and the commutator was scummy. I cleaned the ends of the bad brush, stretched the spring out a little, and polished the commutator and stuck it all back together. Problem solved, temporarily at least.

Now I have a couple of days to find something bigger-better-faster.

If this was to happen to you out in the sticks it would get you home.

 

[nova801428]

Sounds like you need to bring hiking poles with you!!! Just kidding, it is pretty cold in Bend, actually its cold everywhere in Oregon, in the Salem area we hardly got any snow....darn. Have fun

 

[little x]

I have a 200 amp alt from www.mralternator.com that I am very happy with. They are decently priced, and I even got it powder coated to match the engine. They have a 170 amp one for a Ranger 2.9 L, so it should bolt right up.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Any alternator rebuilder will sell you replacement brushes, and springs for a few dollars if that is the only problem with it. AutoZone also sells them in the Wells brand.

 

[whisperer]

little x - That's a sweet unit and bolt-up too. Price seems a little steep but probably not really for a 170 amp unit.

BrooklynBay - Yes, I can buy brushes at the loal parts house for about 5 bucks. That might be a good thing to stick in my trail box in the future. I am not going to count on this one with the old brushes for more then a few days. If it turns into more then that I'll stick a set of brushes in it in the meantime. I really want to upgrade as I'm adding lights, amps, and eventially a winch. That would just tax the little 60 amp original too much.

 

[jeffnvegas]

hey, i'm looking to add accessories myself and would really be interested to know what you come up with for an upgrade. i've got a 2.8 but still would be curious what's out there.
thanx