let there be light........

To the uninitiated and "clueless" spectators at a show/cruise they probably can't tell the diff between a gen or an alt.
Mine is painted flat black and blends right in.
Paul in CT
 
Well, I run what I WANT, it's for ME, ME, ME! On my first car, I paid A.C.R. extra to get a NEW converted alternator 'cause I think the black ones look "FUNNY"! So there! I wanted folks to notice my "New Fangled Alternator"!
My Avatar '29 is bone stock except for a leakless pump, 6 blade plastic fan, & Optima battery. I plan to run it that way for an ooooold time experience. Just forked out a potload of hard earned cash for new Coker Classic 6:00 x 16's, so's I'll look good! Can you imagine that 1987 tires were "ROTTEN"? Dang! The tread was like NEW!! Broke Bill W.
 
I hear you Bill, it's tire time for me as well. Blasting and powder coating wheels is on the list too. Hey, can I get a loan ?
 
I switched to an alternator [6volt pos gr] because of problems with the $#!%%# cut out, could not keep the charging rate up.... I am for GO not SHOW, I consider this a safety issue like seatbelts, turn signals,and second brake light,IMHO bobbycoke
 
I also switched my Model A's over to 6 Volt alternators many years ago. I did it mostly because I found that I could not have a horn and lights at the same time. I was finding that I had to rev the car up while driving in a parade to get a good horn sound. Also we had a local auto electrical shop that had a super price on their 6 volt alternators. Put the original generators on the shelf untouched for years. Overall I have been happy with running with the alternators and no problems ever.

The gentleman who owns that local automotive electrical shop is getting older now with various health concerns so I asked him to look over those original generators that I had. He cleaned and replaced whatever they needed and are now all good for the long haul. He was very happy to be able to this Model A work and someday soon he may not be able to do this work. Once again at a very good price. Now I have these good original generators available along with the newer technologies on the EVR's, Cutouts, I am starting to go back to the running my cars with their original generators. I also sort of like the fact that I can raise the hood to show the engine compartment off. I can now say that the engine looks correct as well as being set up exactly how Henry built them.

Once I get back into serious touring in the coming warmer salt free weather, I will see if I am still happy with the generators as I can alway swap it back to the alternator in a few minutes.
 
While I have an alternator, I will be converting back to a generator.

The brighter lights indicate a higher voltage to them. Light bulbs have a direct relationship to intensity and applied voltage. However, the life of an electric bulb has a "cubed" relationship to voltage and life time.

The extra long light bulbs are designed to work at 130 Volts, instead of the 120 volts. The light output is less, but the lifetime is much longer.

For the model A, the extra voltage from the alternators above the generator makes for a bright light but a shorter lifetime for the battery. The life time for the lights is also much shorter than at the correct voltage.

Marc
 
When I bought my restored 1930 Town Sedan many years ago, I did several things that are on many's no-no list: a Mitchell OD, a Snyder 5.5 head, a V-8 clutch and pressure plate, lightened flywheel, a 6v alternator, real halogen headlights, LED taillights, and a concealed turn signal kit. Everything else is pretty much stock, and without looking real close it looks very stock, and also drives pretty much that way. But I did want a nice Model A that I could drive anywhere, anytime here in S. Calif., including on the freeway or on fast surface streets.
I have driven on many tours and also drive it at least 4 times a week, and I don't regret any of these improvements....I did not plan on showing my car, but wanted one that I felt comfortable and safe in.
As to the alternator and halogen lights....before I went that route, I tried using the brighter regular bulbs and they were better, but not even close to the halogen bulbs. My lights actually light up the road now. I also have had no issues with my battery either...it is doing just fine.
As with all of these items, it is a very personal choice as to what to change, or leave completely stock...the folks that don't want an alternator probably would never have an overdrive either.
 
"...the folks that don't want an alternator probably would never have an overdrive either."

Not quite.:)
I always thought if Henry had an overdrive, and higher compression head, he would have had the almost perfect car, but I sure like the generator.:D
 
marc hildebrant said:
While I have an alternator, I will be converting back to a generator.



For the model A, the extra voltage from the alternators above the generator makes for a bright light but a shorter lifetime for the battery. The life time for the lights is also much shorter than at the correct voltage.

Marc
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Don't kid yourself, Marc, ordinary batteries last longer with an alternator, since it is NEVER overcharged & NEVER undercharged. Your so called "extra voltage" is the correct voltage!
Argueing alternator VS generator is like comparing a RACE HORSE to an old MULE! Bill W. ANR
 
BILL WILLIAMSON said:
How come when I mention how great an alternator is, ABOUT 77 folks jump on my CASE????? Bill W.
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YA must not have the Dog Buster sticken up for ya!!
I personally don't like the looks of an alternator under the hood of a model a, but i have nothing against what other people prefer or use!
A wise man once told me "We all have a common goal, whether we get there the same way or different ways, we still all get there" SO OUR COMMON GOAL IS TO ENJOY THE MODEL A!!!
John
 
BILL WILLIAMSON said:
Don't kid yourself, Marc, ordinary batteries last longer with an alternator, since it is NEVER overcharged & NEVER undercharged. Your so called "extra voltage" is the correct voltage!
Argueing alternator VS generator is like comparing a RACE HORSE to an old MULE! Bill W. ANR
Click to expand...

Bill, Didn't buster tell you there's a fix for the unregulated generator? :confused:

PowerhouseEVR5b_zps5928a3f3.jpg


This will be my 9th year on the 6 volt battery I picked up at the recycling yard for a couple bucks. I have a powerhouse with my EVR as pictured. Wish I knew how old the battery was when someone sent it to the recycling yard. :confused:
 
Tom, won't you ever learn that folks don't want to be confused with facts? It just strains the brain much too much!!!

Tom Wesenberg said:
Bill, Didn't buster tell you there's a fix for the unregulated generator? :confused:

PowerhouseEVR5b_zps5928a3f3.jpg


This will be my 9th year on the 6 volt battery I picked up at the recycling yard for a couple bucks. I have a powerhouse with my EVR as pictured. Wish I knew how old the battery was when someone sent it to the recycling yard. :confused:
Click to expand...
 
For as long as I remember, my grandpa had alternators on his cars (when he had them, they were 6v). One day I asked him why he switched to an alternator, because he was mainly a purist, he said "I finally wised up".

For me, I like alternators because they're maintenance free. I don't have to worry about over/under charging. I just get in and go. No they don't look original, but then again I'm not in this hobby to impress anyone. As for the battery life, I know the 'purist' around here than run generators only get 1-2 years out of a battery while using the EVR conversions. When mine was 6v with an alternator, I would get 4-5 years. Maybe it's the weather with the extreme heat and the cold. Might take it's toll on a battery...just my guess.
 
I restored my powerhouse over 10 years ago and don't plan to have to do a thing to it again in my lifetime. It has original bearings with a large grease cavity between the bearings. I just did a powerhouse two weeks ago that had the original grease still in it. It was getting a bit thick from old age, so I cleaned and replaced it with Mystik JT-6 High Temp. It still has the original bearings in perfect condition. That generator is the one in the picture above and should be good for decades with no attention. If I remember right that one was sent back to California.

The long generator has 2 oil fittings, but only needs a couple drops of oil every 5,000 miles or once a year. If the original bearings get replaced with sealed bearings then it's totally maintenance free, except for adjusting the third brush, but the EVR takes care of that also.

I can't explain why some people get such a short life out of their batteries. I do know that most people without an EVR seem to overcharge their batteries, and that's not good for longevity. The same goes for running a battery down. Years ago I read that if a battery is run down to dead, (as would happen with a key or lights left on), 10% of the battery's life is gone forever.
 
Tom, I'm flexible, Vermin is bone stock, came with a rebuilt starter, generator, & a new script cutout. Gotta' check & see if it is a stock type, diode type, or a Fun Products type regulator. I WILL run the generator & a new Optima battery.
The reason I hype the use an alternator is because I had total trouble free service with my other car with an alternator. 8 years & counting on a regular battery, only once EVER had a charger on it when I left the dash lite on for 5 days. Minerva sat with the 8 year old battery for 6 months while I was hospitalized & in rehab & "BANGED OFF" as if I had driven her yesterday! Lights were superb, even with regular bulbs & that MAJESTIC horn blew like GABRIEL, even with the motor not running, as the battery was always FULLY charged!! Rarely ever had to add a tad of water to the battery. I hope everyone runs whatever THEY want to run, I DO!
Also, Tom, do you supply the cutout type regulator for the stock skinny generator? Bill W. (By the way, Buster T. has never been out front or in the street, I have a huge backyard for exercise & I keep the door down when he plays SHOP DOG! When I asked him if he LIKED the KRAZY Barners, he wagged his tail!!) Bill W.
 

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Well, my restored '29 roadster came with a 12 volt alternator and will stay that way. I might change it over to a chrome alternator someday just for the fun of it. My '31 jalopy roadster came with an original "A" generator, but I changed it to a 1935 Chevy truck Delco-Remy generator, again for
the fun of it. Plus the Delco puts out more amps (using the Delco relay)then the "A" genny.:) At first I didn't know if the Delco would work on
the "A". The "A" being positive ground and Chevy's being negative ground.
What ever, it works with no problem. Apparently generators don't care what the ground is they just produce power whether it is negative or positive.:p

Bob-A:D

FYI: The key wording in all of this is: "....for the fun of it."
 
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