Warren,John, Anyone..-Need Help with final phases of 3.3 Install

[rboylan]

Boys,

I'm 90% done on the 3.3 Install. I am not using the original 3.3 Turbo electrical board or CDI. I've installed MSD and am modifying the early electrical board. Here's the questions:

1. Can I use the existing Marchal voltage regulator setup from the early car? If no, what are my alternatives ?

2. If the alternator voltage requirements are similar, won't the existing wiring on the electrical board support the older regulator/noise suppression ?

3. Please post commentary on this. Thank you.

[Wayne 962]

I would think that the eletrical would work exactly the same. The eletrical system doesn't care if there's a 2.2 or a 3.3 in there...

-Wayne

[john walker's workshop]

are you using the original 50A alt that was in the 70, or the 90A that is on the 3.3? the 90A would be internally regulated, so the external reg would not be used. there are a few CIS related items that are not provided for in the 70 harness, so they'll have to be considered too.

[rboylan]

Wayne,

I was leaning the same way as you but I'm not certain the 3.3 alt. has an internal regulator ? I spoke to Darren(my favorite Pelican Sales Guy, your employee) and he checked and stated the '79 3.3 had an external regulator. This is where some of my wondering comes from.

John,

I've heard different answers regarding the 3.3 alternator. It is the original alternator that came with the 3.3 motor. Do you know definitively whether or not the '79 American Turbos had internal or external voltage regulators ? That info. would be of great help and eliminate one of the final demons of this job.

THANKS AGAIN GUYS.

[Early_S_Man]

Rich,

The definitive answer as to whether or not the 3.3 alternator you have needs an external regulator depends on whether or not it has a 'DF' terminal or not. If so, then you need a regulator to match that model alternator.

If not, it has an internal regulator.

[rboylan]

Warren,

How can I confirm whether or not it has a "DF" terminal. I'm not sure what a "DF" terminal is. Please shed some light. Thank you.

[Wayne 962]

Hmm, I was assuming that you were using the original alternator off of your original engine. I didn't think that you were using the 3.3 alternator. I don't think that the 3.3 has an external regulator...

-Wayne

[john walker's workshop]

the alternators get swapped all the time and updated to internal. you could pull it out and see. takes 15 minutes. the DF terminal is where the black wire attaches to the brush pack.

[Early_S_Man]

Rich,

If the alternator needs an external regulator, there will be 4 studs on the back where wire ring/lug terminals attach. The four wires are heavy gauge Red and Brown wires, and lighter Black and Blue wires.

If it is an internal-regulator verasion, there are only three studs and wires ... and the Black wire for the 'DF' lead between alternator and regulator isn't used! The 3-wire version is shown below:

[RarlyL8]

Rich -

I believe my '78 930's stock regulator is internal. I pulled out the alternator and took a look for you. Here is what I saw:

D = ground
D- = 4 brown wires
+b1 = blue wire
B+ = 2 large red wires
DF = plug in black wire

Wire harness is stock. I'll look through my 930 shop manual and find out for certain what I have. Hope this helps.

[john walker's workshop]

if there's a plug on black wire, it's externally regulated. that's the DF wire.
FWIW, some 90A alts have 2 B+ terminals and 2 D- (ground) terms, as well as the D+/61 term.