Alternator Failure

[Deleted member 215073]

Last weekend I took a trip up to Guernsey, WY to do a bit of long range shooting with a friend who lives there. It was a nice weekend so I hopped in the Mustang and headed north. Everything went great, we had a good time, and I headed home. Just as I got to the I-25 to I-80 interchange in Cheyenne, I noticed I had no more power steering. Looked at the gauges, battery light is on, and the engine is getting hot. I shut it down and coasted to the bottom of the exit to a dirt pad there.

Upon inspection under the hood, I noticed the belt was gone, then I noticed the alternator pulley was coming off the shaft. The nut and washer were gone, threads we're stripped, and lots of play in the shaft.

Needless to say I need an alternator. Winter is coming so it's a good time to put the car away and do some upgrades. First obviously is the alternator, which is getting a 130 amp unit and improved wiring. Then when it's debatable and there's no salt on the ground it'll get subframe connectors.

Those of you who have done the LMR upgrade, was it a pretty easy install? How well is the wiring kit designed? I've read mixed reviews on the quality of the alternator. It has a lifetime warranty, but that does nothing for me if I'm stranded and have to send the alternator back to get it replaced.

 

[General karthief]

Take a look at this, it will help.
http://www.stangnet.com/mustang-forums/resources/3g-alternator-fox-upgrade.18/

 

[Deleted member 215073]

I got a reman stock alternator for the car. I had to because my truck is now broke, and an alternator is an easier fix than an in-tank fuel pump on my Ranger. First one was clocked wrong, so I took it back to be clocked correctly. Apparently it couldn't be done so I got my money refunded. Went across town and the guy there knew that the part # indicates how they're clocked and got me the correct one. The power plug wasn't brittle or burned at all so I'll stick with stock for now. Also, it now has the stock pulley instead of the underdrive, although the water pump and crank still are underdriven.

 

[Noobz347]

although the water pump and crank still are underdriven

Ditch them if you still have the OEM pieces lying around.

I've typed this at least a hundred times but I'll type it out again.

If you completely remove the belt from a Fox Mustang with a 302, the net result is between 6 and 8 RWHP depending on who you talk to.

Underdrive pullies are a 20% reduction. 8 RWHP x .20 = 1.6 RWHP. Even if you're a die-hard underdrive pulley fan and think all of your accessories are costing you 20 RWHP (there is zero data indicating more than the previously mentioned 8) then 20 x .20 = 4. That's 4 RWHP. To make it even better, they often cause problems with cooling and/or charging particularly on a car with the stock 80 amp alt (at 2500 rpm or above).

Aftermarket pullies are good for one thing IMO and one thing only: Aesthetics.

If you insist on running these pulleys I would highly recommend purchasing accessories that are better suited to the task. If that seems like an undesirable expense, I might suggest that they could be put to use as ashtrays, paperweights, or doorstops.

 

[Deleted member 215073]

The car came with the pulleys, and I don't have the original ones. They were installed by the original owner in 1994 and are long gone. I don't like them either, and would prefer to have stock pulleys, it's just what I have right now. It doesn't get too hot here on Cheyenne, and I haven't ran into cooling issues yet.

(unless someone wants to donate a set of stock ones, it is what it is for now).

 

[Noobz347]

junk yards

 

[General karthief]

My garage

 

[Deleted member 215073]

To my knowledge, there aren't any V8 Fox Mustangs in salvage yards in a 100 mile radius. There was one 4 cylinder car at a local yard, but it was stripped. They all seem to mainly focus on late model cars and trucks anymore.

Karthief, how much do you want for a stock water pump and crank pulley?

 

[Noobz347]

To my knowledge, there aren't any V8 Fox Mustangs in salvage yards in a 100 mile radius. There was one 4 cylinder car at a local yard, but it was stripped. They all seem to mainly focus on late model cars and trucks anymore.

Karthief, how much do you want for a stock water pump and crank pulley?

My garage

You might want to private message @karthief and see if you can sweet talk him into parting with a set.

Please don't wheel and deal in discussion forums.