S1 3.8 ALTERNATOR CONVERSION

[ALAN COCHRANE]

Hi Everyone

I came across an old thread-Aug 2011- from Ray Livingstone about an alternator conversion kit he was selling. My car has already been changed to negative earth with an alternator. Unfortunately it's not in the best of health being noisy, having fluctuating charging levels at idle and an unsightly repair to the pulley wheel. Does anyone know if they are still available and at what cost? Does the kit actually come with the alternator or do you have to source this separately? Thanks In Advance

Cheers

Alan

[Dean052]

Hi,
Alternator conversions for S1 3.8 e-types are quite common, CMC make one so do Wilkinsons and Rob Beere to name a few. I have currently a kit for Wilkinsons fitted to my 3.8 coupe. It fits and works well. However, The Altenrantor they supply is just a satndard 15 ACR Lucas unit (or similar) so it is a bit bulky and I would have preferred a smaller light weight item. As you already have an alternator fitted you must have the mounting bracket and are free to choose any alternator you want. try www.wosperformance.co.uk they have many light weiht alternators that will replace your malfunctioning unit

Ha

[Dave K]

I have bought the Rob Beere lightweight alternator, it' tiny and light. going to wait until winter to change my car from +ve earth to -ve earth.
Rob's kit comes with a micro vee pulley system which is used on modern cars and a lot better than the original system.

Dave

[ALAN COCHRANE]

Thanks for the replies Gents
I've done further investigations into my alternator's "braised" repair. It appears this was not a repair at all but a lash-up to retain the early 3.8 single V fan belt. The pulley wheel was from the original dynamo which had a larger diameter shaft than the Lucas 11AC alternator. Rather than source the correct sized pulley, the PO simply had the old dynamo wheel braised onto the alternator shaft. I've now sourced another 11AC unit from Hutson's and a correct sized pulley wheel and fan from a scrap unit.
I've learned that all Lucas alternators have the same shaft diameter so the pulley wheels are interchangeable.
I was also unaware of the fact that the 4.2 alternator had a much smaller pulley wheel designed for a double V belt. The learning curve is never ending!
So if anybody needs a 4.2 double V alternator pulley wheel and fan, I have brand new ones going spare.
On the downside I've discovered that the noisy alternator was actually a noisy water pump. So this has been added to my ever growing Winter "to do" list.
The joys of E living.

Cheers

Alan

[tinworm]

I have a Bedford Rascal van alternator fitted to my E type - I had a spare one from our little van amongst other possible candidates when I decided to uprate the cooling system with a larger electric fan and needed an alternator to cope with the increased load - the rascal one went on perfectly so I bought a new one off fleabay so it would look pretty (?40). The Bedford pulley is the same as the early E single vee belt type so all you have to do is modify the the original dynamo bracket (or make a new one like I did) and wire up according to the Bedford workshop manual . I was also rewiring the car when I did this so it was easy enough to delete/add wiring as required. I also fitted a Voltmeter from the new Smiths range in place of the ammeter.

regards Barrie

[fasted591]

So if anybody needs a 4.2 double V alternator pulley wheel and fan, I have brand new ones going spare.

If you have still got it. I am interested

[Tony]

I have bought the Rob Beere lightweight alternator, it' tiny and light. going to wait until winter to change my car from +ve earth to -ve earth.
Rob's kit comes with a micro vee pulley system which is used on modern cars and a lot better than the original system.

Dave

Dave,

Is there any chance of giving a blow by blow account of changing from + to - earth. It is something I am contemplating when my dynamo or regulator gives me trouble again. Are you still on a dynamo at the moment? Or is that a silly question when you are still on positive earth?
I have heard that the clock does not work when switching, my radio will not work and from reading Dave's troubles with his fuel pump that the series 1 pumps are polarity sensitive and will need the wires swapping over? I am sure there are a number of other things also to consider. I must admit at the moment the dynamo and regulator are working fine at the moment, but now I have tempted fate they may decide not to do so.

[Heuer]

Tony

Positive to negative earth conversion guide: http://www.jcna.com/library/tech/tech0023.html

[Tony]

Thanks David, that seem to explain what I need to do. I will need to disconnect the radio as it is the original. It totally useless anyway in a roadster and I never use it.