external regulator swap

65sssd · Poncho Master!

external regulator swap

Ghost Post · Poncho Master!

Here's a thread below from a few months ago w/ info and links on doing this..
I believe the subject car didn't end up getting the internal reg unit...but still may yet?.

http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?forumID=118110&p=3&topicID=19767425

-- Edited by Ghost Post at 19:30, 2008-11-08

beaumontwagon · Guru

After bolting it on you hook up the main power as usual,and run a short wire from it to the closest prong of the two reg. feeds.With the harness reg. plug, you connect the two outer prongs to each other and the two inner ones to each other.Just like looping them back into each other,buy not sure about the origional dash light wire.

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Buy a 12SI alternator clocked to fit your bracket,
and a conversion kit from Lectric

-- Edited by cdnpont at 08:55, 2008-11-09

67Poncho · Uber Guru

With all of my cars, I just looped the brown, power with key on, and the blue wires at the regulator. Then I popped the blue terminal out of the old connector at the alternator, put in in cavity #1 of the new connector and wired #2 to the Batt stud on the back of the alternator.
GM did this often in the mid '80's with their #2 cavity terminal to the battery stud. I did this as well when I installed the late '80's--'90's style CS-130 alternator on my '67 coupe. My gauges still work with this conversion.

65sssd · Poncho Master!

Thanks for the info. It makes sense now. Any problems with the charge light in the car?

67Poncho · Uber Guru

I know with my pre-'69 Ponchos, there is just an amp gauge and all is fine. I forgot about my '70 Catalina with the batt lamp but I have that one converted too and the lamp is fine.
The batt lamp bulb acts as an inline resistor suppling battery power from the ignition switch to ignite the field in the alternator. Since the bulb needs a power and ground to light, the alternator controls this. With the engine not running, it finds a ground path through the regulator to ground illuminating the lamp. When the engine is running, alternator charging, the ground path is cut off by the positive output of the alternator, no ground path, thus turning off the lamp.
Hence, when the lamp is on dull or bright in the dash with the engine running and you are on tour, the bulb has found that ground and your tour is coming to an end!!!! cry

-- Edited by 67Poncho at 21:07, 2008-11-08

-- Edited by 67Poncho at 21:07, 2008-11-08

-- Edited by 67Poncho at 11:22, 2008-11-09

Ghost Post · Poncho Master!

Thanks for posting the link to the 'Lectric' conversion kit..
Pretty slick setup also some really great other products too!.

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Good explanation of the "Battery" lamp Vince.

I think it would be pretty easy to make our own adapter plugs to complete the conversion cleanly. I plan on eliminating the external regulator all together, and just go with a remote sensed powerpoint, so I'll make up a new charging harness anyway. Also relays fed from the powerpoint for the headlamps, to eliminate pulling power back from the firewall connection. The relays will mount where the regulator used to sit on the rad support.

67Poncho · Uber Guru

cdnpont wrote:

Good explanation of the "Battery" lamp Vince.

I think it would be pretty easy to make our own adapter plugs to complete the conversion cleanly. I plan on eliminating the external regulator all together, and just go with a remote sensed powerpoint, so I'll make up a new charging harness anyway. Also relays fed from the powerpoint for the headlamps, to eliminate pulling power back from the firewall connection. The relays will mount where the regulator used to sit on the rad support.

I agree with Mark!! You could make the plugs easily. I have my own stash of GM Terminals and connectors for that factory look and I have added the extra power feeds for the accessories as well. That single power wire from the battery to the horn relay and beyond just doesn't cut it anymore!!!
I guess I go overboard at times when explaining things!!!! Learned this while at the dealer explaining problems/fixes to the customers! Still do it with them in my own shop today. I always try and put things in laymans terms for them to grasp and understand. They seem to always put that "I understand" look on their face or are they just agreeing with me??? Although, I do get lots of cookies and bakery goods from the little old ladies!!! biggrin

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Nice to see I'm not the only one who saves the GM connectors and terminals. In my younger years it was all that blue butt connector stuff too, but now I just dig into the box of terminals and old harness stuff and make up a factory looking wire when I need to. It looks SO much better then.

67Poncho · Uber Guru

I save freakin' everything!!!!! I have lots of the newer GM terminals as well, just because I love the factory look as well and hate the non sealable butt connectors as you. Although, I do like the ring terminals as I remove the insulation, solder---another must---and heat shrink them for that neater looking look!

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

67Poncho wrote:

I save freakin' everything!!!!! I have lots of the newer GM terminals as well, just because I love the factory look as well and hate the non sealable butt connectors as you. Although, I do like the ring terminals as I remove the insulation, solder---another must---and heat shrink them for that neater looking look!

We must be twins separated at birth! Same thing I like to do, throw away the plastic piece and heat shrink it. I only wish I would have started this sooner. Now as I work on my stuff, I find I am tidying up my earlier crappy work.