Alternator issue....whats wrong with this pic?

7763 Views 88 Replies 23 Participants Last post by Fireguy50, Apr 21, 2009

Redwagon

Discussion Starter · Apr 6, 2009

3

So had a little difficulty getting home from Saturday's wheeling trip.
About 15 miles from home I started to notice an electrical burning smell...looked down and noticed my battery gages slowly sinking...had just enough time to make it to the side of the freeway and waited for AAA to come out and tow me home.

So today I decide to dig in and see whats going on...(charged one battery overnight) the damn thing fires right up...but I go ahead and stick a volt meter on the charge wire coming off the alt...

I don't think this is normal?

Hi rpms

low rpms

this would be the second time my powermaster alt has gone bad....

So off to pick a part to find a 3g....spent about 1/2 hour scouring the different fords that Fireguy lists and found this...looks like it was just installed

ran it by Vatozone and tests good...(they list it rebuilt for $168.00) I paid with warranty and core-charge $38.00

so now to install and wire it up....

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1 - 20 of 89 Posts

AUBronco

· #2 · Apr 6, 2009

Yeah something isn't right at all with the alt.

Good find on the 3G. I did the same thing 4 years ago bought one out of a junkyard that tested good and has kept me running every since.

SoCalFSB

· #3 · Apr 6, 2009

Damn dude thats crazy! Looks like you got it fixed now though!

magnumpi

· #4 · Apr 6, 2009

voltage regulator shot i would guess?

I would see if you can't grab another regulator and see if that fixes the problem just to have a spare.

JahWarrior

· #5 · Apr 6, 2009

magnumpi said:
voltage regulator shot i would guess?

I would see if you can't grab another regulator and see if that fixes the problem just to have a spare.

:stupid

votage regulator went out on an old 72 dodge dart I had. wasn't aware at the time, had just bought the car, and kept cranking on it... blew the top off the battery.

godless

· #6 · Apr 6, 2009

BTW, as you know now, powermaster alts are garbage. I sold a few when I worked for 4wpw, They all came back with issues. I really dont know how they measure QC at their business but they really need to re-vamp WTF they are using...

Good luck with the 3g. Good alt. I enjoyed mine when I had it.

Redwagon

Discussion Starter · #7 · Apr 6, 2009

magnumpi said:
voltage regulator shot i would guess?

I would see if you can't grab another regulator and see if that fixes the problem just to have a spare.

power master does not use a normal regulator, I would most likely have to buy it from them...

godless said:
BTW, as you know now, powermaster alts are garbage. I sold a few when I worked for 4wpw, They all came back with issues. I really dont know how they measure QC at their business but they really need to re-vamp WTF they are using...

Good luck with the 3g. Good alt. I enjoyed mine when I had it.

Yes everything I have bought from powermaster has been crap...

Another problem...I yanked the 3g off a 92 taurus...turns out its the larger case and will not fit...

Does anyone know what year/model 3g is an exact replacement?

Shadofax

· #8 · Apr 6, 2009

redwagon said:
power master does not use a normal regulator, I would most likely have to buy it from them...

Yes everything I have bought from powermaster has been crap...

Another problem...I yanked the 3g off a 92 taurus...turns out its the larger case and will not fit...

Does anyone know what year/model 3g is an exact replacement?

There is only a small case 3g and a large case 3g. they of course have different mounts, you have the older style, and yes, what you found is the nice, large case 3g. That's what you need to get installed. why were you running a small case? isn't there a setup to convert the older style to the new large case?

magnumpi

· #9 · Apr 6, 2009

some tarus's had the smaller case 3G. you just gotta look around.

Do you have a serpentine setup? i think even with the serp. you have to grind a little on your bracketry.

you could try finding a later model(around 94up i think) pickup/van. They had a 3g from the factory. just grab the alternator and bracket and bolt it up.

Redwagon

Discussion Starter · #10 · Apr 6, 2009

Shadofax said:
There is only a small case 3g and a large case 3g. they of course have different mounts, you have the older style, and yes, what you found is the nice, large case 3g. That's what you need to get installed. why were you running a small case? isn't there a setup to convert the older style to the new large case?

the bracket is what came off the donor 351 that I swapped the serpentine stuff from...the powermaster alt was originally on the v-belt setup and fit right into the serpentine setup.

86BlackedoutBronco

· #11 · Apr 6, 2009

Pics of the Powermaster? I might be able to rebuild it for you on the cheap, and make it last.

92builtbronco

· #12 · Apr 6, 2009

I used one off a '95 Mustang 5.0/ iirc 3.8 was the same too

Shadofax

· #13 · Apr 6, 2009

redwagon said:
the bracket is what came off the donor 351 that I swapped the serpentine stuff from...the powermaster alt was originally on the v-belt setup and fit right into the serpentine setup.

any pics of the setup Tim? There's got to be a way to fairly easily modify that bracket to accept the larger case. Is the wiring any different? Wouldn't think so, I know swapping from my small case 95A to the large case 200A the wiring was identical (but that's on a '95 side mount that also requires no bracket mod).

Redwagon

Discussion Starter · #14 · Apr 6, 2009

Shadofax said:
any pics of the setup Tim? There's got to be a way to fairly easily modify that bracket to accept the larger case. Is the wiring any different? Wouldn't think so, I know swapping from my small case 95A to the large case 200A the wiring was identical (but that's on a '95 side mount that also requires no bracket mod).

it appears to be a one piece bracket with the tensioner built in....

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Toy Keeper

· #15 · Apr 6, 2009

Tim you need a different bracket. Been there done that. Look for a bracket from a mid 90's T-Bird, but measure from mount hole to mount thread since some were large alts and some small. You might spot them in the lincolns too.

Redwagon

Discussion Starter · #16 · Apr 6, 2009

Toy Keeper said:
Tim you need a different bracket. Been there done that. Look for a bracket from a mid 90's T-Bird, but measure from mount hole to mount thread since some were large alts and some small. You might spot them in the lincolns too.

will the serpentine belt still fit?

Toy Keeper

· #17 · Apr 6, 2009

redwagon said:
will the serpentine belt still fit?

Mine did fit, but was a little tighter. You might need a belt 1/2 inch or so longer. My old belt worked untill I put in the Sag pump.

Redwagon

Discussion Starter · #18 · Apr 6, 2009

Toy Keeper said:
Mine did fit, but was a little tighter. You might need a belt 1/2 inch or so longer. My old belt worked untill I put in the Sag pump.

Scott what size motor in the t-bird?

Toy Keeper

· #19 · Apr 6, 2009

redwagon said:
Scott what size motor in the t-bird?

its a 5.0

Worn Out F150

· #20 · Apr 6, 2009

So did the donor Tarus have the 3.8?

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