Alternative Alternator?

[mouce]

My alternator is on its way out. At the moment it's just a stock unit, but I was wondering if there are any Holden alternators for a VN V6 S1 that has a higher output than stock? I know I could get it rewound for higher current, but that costs a small fortune.

And yes, 85A should be enough, but I'm looking to drop some BIG driving lights on the front (country night driving) as well as a moderate sized sound system with a carputer. So I'd like to have about 100A on hand. A dual battery system is also coming.

Any help?

[1991_Vn2nV]

I cant remember who said it but it was in another thread....apparently you can pick up alternators from spare parts at Holden that are 120A or so? And the BT1 (police cars) had 160A alternators so if you can find an alternator off a BT1 at a wreckers or something that wuld be the go...

[mouce]

So I guess I'd better go and see the friendly rip-off merchants at my local dealership huh? 120A is WAY more than I'll ever need, so I'll get prices on it sometime this week. Anyone want to give me a rough idea of price?

[1991_Vn2nV]

actually i've found that holden dealers can be reasonable. I've gotten things cheaper brand new at the dealership than what wreckers were asking for for second hand stuff. Like an SS driving light switch which the dealer asked $16 for and the wreckers wanted $30 for a second hand one.

[mouce]

Damn, you must be lucky. My local dealership are the most expensive for EVERYTHING I've ever asked for. Hell...when my catalytic converter needed doing the quoted me $850 to supply and fit. FFS, it's a 10 minute job!!! Still, they are one of the leading HSV dealerships in the state, so I guess they don't want to fuc& around with a VN execudore.

Have to ask them, to see what they say. I'll post up once I've spoken to them to let you know.

[1991_Vn2nV]

Ok cool. How the hell could they justify $850 to supply and fit a cat?

[mouce]

Apparently they said that the cat itself was going to cost $750 because of the special catalyst used inside it, and because it was an emissions control item they'd need to test the exhaust fumes once it was back on, hence the $850 price tag. I politely told the guy behind the counter to go fuc& himself walked down the road to the local wreckers picked on up in A1 condition for $65 and fitted it myself in the garage at home.

That and after they charged me $400 to supply and fit a fuel pump I vowed never to go back there to get work done on my car.

I'm going to walk up the street and ask about the alternator in an hour or so. Stay tuned...

[mouce]

Well...I just got back from the dealership and the official word is that there are no HOLDEN alternators for the Buick V6 engine with an output of more than 85A. However I was told that I could just go to Repco and speak to them, and they should be able to find something that will fit.

Yes...that's right, I was told by a holden dealership to go and spend my money elsewhere! Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to get to Repco and see what they have for me.

[1991_Vn2nV]

lol woah they told you to go somewhere else. Sorry about the misinformation on that alternator by the way. I read it in another thread here. Im interested to know wat repco say as well, post it up when ya know wat they can offer!

[mouce]

Nah...hey, don't say sorry. You were trying to help, it's all good. It's a learning experience for both of us.

It is a bit of a spinout that they told me to go somewhere else. To GMH have shares in Repco? LOL

[1991_Vn2nV]

lol, perhaps try looking for one of the BT1 alternators? Im sure theres some wrecked BT1's out there somewhere?

[1991_Vn2nV]

I just asked some friends and they said auto bahn and places like that should have them. Perhaps Motoquipe or something.

[mouce]

Believe it or not I actually asked if he knew anything about the BT1 alternators, so the nice fat little man shuffled off to his computer and tapped away at the keyboard for a bit, clicked the mouse a few times...Then he got up waddled out the back, and three people were all talking about it.

They all said that the BT1 alternator for a VN (and a VP for that matter) was just the standard 85A Bosch alternator. The official GMH parts listing confirmed it too. I even got them to go digging through the HSV parts listing for the SV3800...still nothing.

Autobarn, Repco, Bursons and just about any autoelec workshop should have alternators that would fit.

I'm still kinda stunned that Holden suggested that I spend my money elsewhere :my:

[1991_Vn2nV]

lol, im gonna try and find that thread where i read about the alternators. I was lookin forward to getting a BT1 alternator...now im all disappointed

[mouce]

Well...I've been told by a sales rep at Bosch that there were no high-output alternators available for the VN/VP commodore. The only one was the 85A stock unit.

The first BT1 alternator upgrade was available for the VS (ecotec engine).

I was told that if I wanted a higher output I could get it rewired locally (for a couple of hundred dollars), or I can get one custom made at Bosch (for many hundred dollars). So I just got a new 85A one to fit.

Sorry to shatter your dream of a BT1 alternator.

[1991_Vn2nV]

Lol ah well...you reckon a VS alternator could fit on a VN?

If it doesnt fit...maybe i could MAKE it fit....*wheres my hammer*

[mouce]

Apparently it won't fit, because the brackets are different from a VN to a VS, if you can make your own brackets then it's all good I reckon you could get it to fit. Either that or you might be able to remove the bracket from the 120A alternator and fit it to the 85A.

Either way for the mean time I've got my nice shiny 85A one in there now, and I'm going to save to get the old one redone (eventually) to produce something about 120A.

[1991_Vn2nV]

Very cool. Thanks for all the info! Good luck with the alternator too.

[mouce]

Took me only 20 minutes to change the alternator (single person job) and that includes opening the beer at the end to stand there and admire my work. Easy job to do, just don't forget to disconnect the earth of the battery.

[pat]

believe it or not your current alternator will punch 100amps if it needs to even though it is rated 85a