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Triumph TR6 - Alternator conversion...

Now I know it's in the archives and I DID look at Teg's site and learned a few things.

Has anyone actually done this conversion on a 6? My Lucas alternator is history. The battery holds just fine once charged but if you go for a drive, etc. etc. etc.

Yep, I checked the connections, cleaned them, double checked them, still little joy.

Anyone actually put a one wire Delco on their TR6?

Thanks, as always,

Jim
Jim Deatsch

I haven't done the conversion, but Autozone has a direct replacement for about $100, I think.
Brent B

Jim, I did the Bosch conversion using the one from the 78 Fiesta. It worked great and it was very easy and nothing had to be modified.

w Holtzclaw

So W, you just bought a 78 Ford Fiesta alternator and plugged it in?

I've got a 3 wire Lucas that won't charge till 3000 rpm and has a draw against the battery when the ignition is off.

The Fiesta alt sounds dandy if it's that easy.

I'll email you.

Thanks,
Jim
Jim Deatsch

I've e-mailed Jim but I can say for sure that the 78-80 Ford Fiesta altenator made by Bosch is the most straightforward upgrade I have done to my car. A good friend of mine owns a altenator shop and says that the Bosch is so far ahead of the Lucas that a reasonable comparison can't be made. To top it off, NO cuts to my harness as the Lucas plug and this particular Bosch receiver are exactly the same!
w Holtzclaw

Guess who's calling his favorite parts house at 7:30 this am?

Thanks a TON W.

I'll be a happy charger.

Jim
Jim Deatsch

Here's the deal then:
The Bosch is $64.00 plus core at my local REAL parts house not Advance Auto or AutoZone. Autozone gets $106.00 plus core.

I established a relationship with a Parts House some 5 years ago and they now sell to me at stocking dealer prices so it's worked out well.

Stop by and talk with your local parts house. It could save you a ton.

Hope this helps someone,

Jim
Jim Deatsch

I also installed a Bosch alternator - very simple - just bolt on and plug harness in. I had to use a longer belt. I think they are 55 amps which is higher than the various Lucas ACR models.
Michael McLaughlin

Could someone post the Bosch part number.

Thanks,

JOhn Parfitt
73 5 speed.
John Parfitt

John, et al,

If I still had the box I'd be happy to but I just took back the Lucas piece for the 'core'.
I looked my Bosch over carefully and there is nothing LIKE a part number on it anywhere.
I DO know that I asked for, and received, an alternator for a 78 Ford Fiesta.
The belt on my car needed to be one inch longer. I wound up using a Gates 7440 which worked perfect.
Like W said: It fits PERFECTLY. The wire harness (for a 3 wire (actually 4 if you count the seperate wire that's not part of the plastic connector)) plugs right in and I've got a great charge even with the headlights and brake lights and heater on.
I'm loving life.

Jim
Jim Deatsch

If anyone of you have not gone to the Buckeye Triumph website and checked out thier TR6 shop reference, you need to stop whatever it is you are doing and go there, NOW. It is full of great info including the alt conversion. Not a member but it is a great resource.By the way, I was able to use the same belt. The web site I refer to suggests to ask for the Fiesta that has a/c and rear window defog as it a litttle higher amp. It also says that a 76 VW rabbit came with this particular alt.
w Holtzclaw

Gents,

Thanks much for the info - I'll be doing this just before my Lucas packs it in. At the moment the old Lucas is perkin along at full charge at cruise with no problems to speak of.

Regards,

John Parfitt
73 5 Speed.
John Parfitt

John and all,

My indicator of impending alternator failure was twofold:

1. When disconnecting the ground cable from my battery and then just BARELY touching it to the battery post I would get a VERY slight spark that was difficult to see in the light and even harder to hear.

2. The idiot light on the instrument panel would stay lit till around 2500 rpm.

Both are now as expected. No spark and the light goes out as soon as the engine starts.

Jim

Jim Deatsch

Jim,

A spark? Heck, mine snaps-crackle-and-pops when I connect the ground with the positive already connected. Why would that indicate any kind of an alternator failure?

John Parfitt
73 5 Speed.
John Parfitt

John,

If you get a spark when connecting either battery lead (assuming the other one is still connected) that is indicative of a load against the battery.

If the ignition is off and you don't have any sort of radio that needs constant power to retain memory for presets for stations (or a clock) then you've a load against the battery when the ignition is off.

There shouldn't be any sparks (except for that mentioned above) when you connect a cable.

I had eliminated (by removing fuses) any other load against my system and, when I finally disconnected the alternator leads) the sparks went away.

With the new alternator, no sparks. Nada.

Jim
Jim Deatsch

My 1976 would not charge and die when I remove the negative cable from the battery. Picked up the Bosch alternator for the 1978 Fiesta from Beck-Arnley.
The mounting flange around the unit is reversed; the alternator has to face backwards to have the bolt slot and the threaded adjuster line up. OK, I'll put it in with one, and rig something to hold the adjuster end so I keep belt tension.
I start the car and the amp meter reads a strong 14 until I can't see it anymore. The interior of the car is filled with smoke...
Quick removal of battery terminal connections and the crisis is over. I get a spark when I connect the negative strap to the battery terminal when any one of the four fuses are in. I get one with no fuses, too.
I suspect ignition switch, but would welcome (love) any idea on where to start. The smoke seemed to be coming from under the dash, but was too thick and quick to tell from where.
Thanks.

Ed
Ed Martin

You will have to find out what wires caught fire and repair replace. If all fuses out still sparks diconnect connector to alternator as well and check for spark?

By the sounds of it you may have had a short that damaged last alternator and may have toasted this one plus the wiring to?

Bill
Bill Brayford

Ed don't know if you have this page I hope it helps. Go to the bottom TR wiring diagrams don't use the manuals. Print all legal size or yours and last page.

http://www.britishv8.org/techhome.htm

Look for fused wires hard to spot they melt together. If you have a meter just put pos and neg connections and work till shorts gone.

Start a new thread if you have any questions will try to help.

Bill

Bill Brayford

This thread was discussed between 17/08/2003 and 13/09/2003

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