13 replies to this topic

[Jared Mk3]

I have a 1970 model Mini with a 998cc motor and dynamo fitted. I would like to convert to alternator, but which one would be best? And what is all entailed in the swap over?

[dklawson]

The two links below outline the steps necessary to convert to an alternator. The second link details how to convert a gutted dynamo control box into a junction box so most of your wiring is left intact and will appear "normal" and "stock". That is nice both for maintaining an original appearance and so future owners can reverse the conversion if they want to.
http://www.minimania..._TO__ALTERNATOR
http://www.minimania...o_to_Alternator

There are lots of Lucas alternators that can be made to work. There are also donors from other cars that will be good choices. I am too far away to make recommendations for which will be good alternates to source in the U.K.

[Jared Mk3]

Thanks for those links man, they really helped.

I myself am based in South Africa, so haven't got a major range to choose from myself.

[dklawson]

You may be surprised by what alternators can fit. Over here the preferred alternator for years has been the Delco 10SI or 12SI common on GM cars/trucks from probably 1963 to 1983. It is large but plentiful and often sold inexpensively (rebuilt) with a lifetime warranty by local parts vendors. I have been told that those alternators are finally going to be stocked "less" at parts stores because the cars they were used in are now 30+ years old and reducing in number. There are several Bosch and Denso alternators that are taking the place of the Delco. You probably have quite an assortment to choose from it just won't be obvious which ones will be easy to fit and which ones are going to be a challenge.

Keep us up to date with your progress!

[Jared Mk3]

I have noticed that a few guys this side have fitted alternatives to the standard Lucas items. I know of one guy who even fitted an alternator from a Toyota forklift. So it possible to do and use another manufacturer's item. Right now, I just wouldn't know which one.

[dklawson]

If the alternator you are interested in fits the available space, the pulleys line up, and it has only a FEW terminals, the transplant is usually pretty simple.

There will be the tiny wire connection for the warning light. Often (as with the Lucas alternators) that lamp MUST be connected. It is part of the control circuit, not just an indicator. Different vendors use different letters on the alternator case to identify where that wire connects. Sometimes it is easy... like the letter "L".
There are typically one or two large spade lugs or a large threaded post insulated from the case. Sometimes these are labeled "B" and they are the output connected to the battery. As you will have read in the links I posted earlier, to cope with the higher current output of alternators it is typically advised to run a new (second) large gauge wire to the battery cable connected at the starter solenoid in addition to the existing large wire.
The third common connection (if present) is typically a terminal labeled "S". This is a sense wire for the electronics inside the alternator. In some original installations these terminals had their own dedicated wire that went all the way to the battery (+) terminal. In aftermarket conversions these are typically just jumpered over to connect to the "B" terminal on the alternator itself.

Modern car alternators are often way smarter than this and have multiple wires some of which probably connect to the car's computer. Those connections are beyond me. I doubt I will ever fully understand modern cars.

[Jared Mk3]

That makes a lot of sense what you said there. So basically, if the pulleys line up and it has those basic connection points like you said, it would be a simple installation, no matter what make it is?

I'm only 20 and I'd still rather have a car that's older than one of these modern thingys.

[dklawson]

I like the idea of originality but I also like the idea of reliability. I have a '64 but I have outfitted an alternator with the gutted/converted control box. That allows me to convert back to the dynamo when and if I want but it also allows the car to be more dependable, particularly when it is driven infrequently.

There is another variable to look for on a donor alternator, fan rotation. Cooling is important with an alternator. While the alternator will make electricity rotating either direction, the cooling fan will work better turning the "correct" rotation. Therefore it is easiest/safest to choose a donor alternator that rotates the same direction as the Lucas unit in your Mini. That assures the fan on the donor is turning the direction to cool the alternator best. Apart from that, where there are only about 3 terminals the conversion can be straight forward.

Edited by dklawson, 22 February 2013 - 12:36 PM.

[Jared Mk3]

That makes a lot of sense now. I overlooked the fact that certain ones turn another way to others in terms of cooling. Now I know what to look for if I can't find a suitable Lucas item. Of the Lucas items, which one would you suggest being the better option?

[Tamworthbay]

I think the connector was called a 'euro plug' and was Used on all sorts of cars and vans. The offset and shaft diameter are usually the harder bits to sort, but spacers can be easily turned up on a lathe, or even made using stacked washers. If you aren't bothered about originality I would think you could save a load of weight into the bargain as well.

[blacktulip]

i did do a post ages ago with pictures on how to do this but it was deleted by the mods for no apparent reason :-(

[dklawson]

but it was deleted by the mods for no apparent reason :-(

Really? I don't remember your thread and I certainly didn't delete it. Normally a thread is locked and/or hidden. Deletion is seldom done and for any action the mods typically notify the original poster when (and why) an action is taken. Sorry if your thread went missing.

I did find this link from you going back to 2008...
http://www.theminifo...tor conversion

If that is the thread you were thinking of, you are right that the pictures are missing but that may be due to board/software updates and not actions taken against your thread.

Edited by dklawson, 22 February 2013 - 08:12 PM.

[blacktulip]

but it was deleted by the mods for no apparent reason :-(

Really? I don't remember your thread and I certainly didn't delete it. Normally a thread is locked and/or hidden. Deletion is seldom done and for any action the mods typically notify the original poster when (and why) an action is taken. Sorry if your thread went missing.

I did find this link from you going back to 2008...
http://www.theminifo...tor conversion

If that is the thread you were thinking of, you are right that the pictures are missing but that may be due to board/software updates and not actions taken against your thread.

i searched for ages several times to find that. i guess i wasnt serching properly. my apologies

Doug you are a legend!

[dklawson]

No worries.

Another board member enlightened me that the search feature built into the board is nowhere near as good as Google itself.

For future reference you can often find topics better/faster by going to Google and using the following search string:
. site:http://www.theminiforum.co.uk keyword1 keyword2 ...
where keyword is anything (or anyone) you are looking for. In this case I searched of "blacktulip" and "alternator". There are still numerous hits to wade through and they don't appear in chronological order... but you can typically find topics quickly with this method.