Alternator housing options?

[steveaiken]

Awhile back I posted questions regarding my options for my alternator housing on my '80 SC. Well, I received a couple of responses but decided to entered chartered (by me anyway) water on my own.
First, when I looked more closely at my original alternator housing, I found many small cracks. I further learned that it indeed was magnesium and that this was a common long term problem with that material ( I heard also in old lawn mower engines). So the next step was a replacement housing. Looking for a salvaged one would probably end with the same cracking issues. A new factory one was bound to cost a bunch plus were they even available? I found a company called Vertex which sells the housing in cast aluminum for about $550. A good option except for the fact that the name Vertex, their phone number, and made in SA were embossed right on the top of the housing. In addition, the casting is a little rough. So, I carefully ground off the embodiments, sand blasted the housing and had it powder coated.
I am happy with the results.
Again I say this forum is very valuable. I like to contribute where I can since it helps me all the time. Like just recently with a steering column bearing problem I had. When I checked this forum for solutions I found a $13 insert that solved the problem with ease.

[RoninLB]

good story and info

[gamin]

I had the usual cracks in the housing on my 88 3.2. I also chose the Vertex product and it works just fine with no worries about cracking. The band covers the vertex script and who cares if it is a bit rough.

[steveaiken]

The band covers "made in SA" , but not VERTEX and phone number at least on mine. The "rough" isn't bad and could be improved with rotary steel wheel brush.