3.6 alternator in a 3.2 ???

jims914 · 03-29-2010, 06:39 PM

Has anyone installed a 3.6 Alternator in a 3.2 engine, if so what was need to complete?

efhughes3 · efhughes3's Garage

Why?

175K911 · 03-30-2010, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by efhughes3

Why?

That was going to be my question.

jims914 · 03-30-2010, 08:37 PM

Why: a 3.6 has 115 Amps, 3.2 has 90. 3.6 has improved cooling. And the 3.6 has a nice look! So has anyone tried ?

175K911 · 03-31-2010, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jims914

Why: a 3.6 has 115 Amps, 3.2 has 90. 3.6 has improved cooling. And the 3.6 has a nice look! So has anyone tried ?

Actually from what I've been told, the 3.2 moves 12% more air than the 3.6. The 3.6 blades are shaped to reduce noise not increase flow. I'm in the process of collecting the parts to convert the 3.6 going into my '86 with all the parts from a 3.2. I don't need the extra amperage on the track car, no big amps or other electrical draws besides the twin plug dizzy. And as an added benefit, to some people it'll look like a 3.2 in there, hehe.

Targa Me · Targa Me's Garage

These P-cars seem to be sensitve to electrical issues; I wonder if a 115 amp alt will cause any problems with a car designed for a 90 amp alt.

Rob Channell · 03-31-2010, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 175K911

........ And as an added benefit, to some people it'll look like a 3.2 in there, hehe.

Sneaky, Ed.....I like it. Are you also backdating to the 3.2 Carrera intake? Show us pics when you are done if you please.

For relevant content, I ran into one fellow once at an event that had gotten rid of the electricals of the original alternator and had gone with an AC/Delco unit mounted out to the side on an adapter plate instead of the A/C compressor. He said he liked it better and could get more amperage and longer life. I wish I had taken pictues now.

sc_rufctr · 03-31-2010, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Channell

...

For relevant content, I ran into one fellow once at an event that had gotten rid of the electricals of the original alternator and had gone with an AC/Delco unit mounted out to the side on an adapter plate instead of the A/C compressor. He said he liked it better and could get more amperage and longer life. I wish I had taken pictues now.

I've seen this done too. Excellence ran a story about some brothers who modified Porsche's for a living. The car in the story was yellow and had pretty radical body and engine mods. I still have to the issue somewhere. It's maybe 10 years ago now.

From memory this alternator was mounted to the left as you looked at the engine. Still had a stock looking fan. I'm guessing they gutted an old alternator to mount the fan inside the housing.

The reason it sticks in my memory is because my alternator failed on my car just after I bought it. $800 for a brand new one from the dealership. I was lucky because they had one sitting on the shelf they let me have for trade price.

Of course mounting an alternator like this opens up all sorts of options. For instance... A high output MSD alternator?

175K911 · 04-01-2010, 06:09 AM

I had a similar conversation with Jeff Alton some time back about the idea of mounting a simple GM/ Delco/Motorcraft alternator in place of the A/C compressor. One of the benefits could be a "real" tensioner in place of the shims. By slotting the alternator bracket, the alternator becomes the tensioner, and if we could create new pulleys for the crank, fan and alternator you could take advantage of a ribbed serpentine belt too.