Why are alternators so crazy expensive?

davepl · Poncho Master!

Why are alternators so crazy expensive?

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

If it's not urgent, send me the numbers that you would need. The yard I hope to go to in the spring has quite a few 69 Caprices/Impalas. Maybe I can find you a matching alternator.

Howmac · Guru

Dave , if you have a 837 alternator on that car , then its possible it was a replacement later on . The 837 "could" have been put on that car from the beginning , but I've never seen one with it . The 837 would have a deep groove pulley and are correct for the high horsepower engines ( 427/425 or 396/375 for example) . Hence ... big demand = more expensive .

Most 427's used the 834 alternators ( 37 amp), unless they were highly optioned and needed a stronger alternator ( 842 , 843)

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

I'd say that these numbers correct parts are so expensive because of the Corvette aficionados who invented numbers matching and since you've got a Corvette engine voila.

I sold an old numbers correct Quadrajet to a man who was the sole owner of a 1973 454 Corvette, he told me his car was constantly losing points because the carburetor was numbered for a 350 car, had to be installed at factory which really bothered him. How does the car run...Fantastic he said but I need that carb. I was selling these salvage yard carbs for $25 that day, but when I said $125 he couldn't get the money out of his pocket fast enough. I paid $859 for an alternator last May at the GM dealer for my Late model Northstar and they were begging me for the core which they were going to give me $25 for. I kept it and found a local guy to rebuild it in an afternoon for $75. Did I feel like a Stupid after putting that $859 piece on the engine.

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

73SC wrote:
I'd say that these numbers correct parts are so expensive because of the Corvette aficionados who invented numbers matching and since you've got a Corvette engine voila.

x2 . yup