Shortie alternators?

[Boosted LS1]

I'm trying to locate short reasonably high output alternator for an engine conversion that I'm building. I imagine that racing items will be a good place to look at. Has anybody got any pointers? Thanks.

[fatjon]

Denso 5021S from Brise 120Amp 3Kg and 135mm long including pulley. Not sure they get much smaller for that kind of output. Not cheap though. I used one on a job where I was very tight on space in the V of a V8 under the manifold.

[stevieturbo]

Look to small city cars ( ebay search usually works good too )

Daihatsu, Micra, things like that. As for high output...harder to say.

How much do you need ? Small ones generally wont be that powerful.

http://www.gzmotorsports.com/racing-alternators.ht...

[Boosted LS1]

fatjon said:

Denso 5021S from Brise 120Amp 3Kg and 135mm long including pulley. Not sure they get much smaller for that kind of output. Not cheap though. I used one on a job where I was very tight on space in the V of a V8 under the manifold.

That sounds like exactly what I'm after, thanks. I'll check it out.

[Boosted LS1]

stevieturbo said:

Look to small city cars ( ebay search usually works good too )

Daihatsu, Micra, things like that. As for high output...harder to say.

How much do you need ? Small ones generally wont be that powerful.

http://www.gzmotorsports.com/racing-alternators.ht...

Good link Stevie, thanks for that. One of them looks very promising.

[tvrolet]

If you're looking for something 'full size' and beefy but short as opposed to just a wee race alternator, then the one off a Ford Explorer is pretty short (I'm sure it's off a Ford Explorer). The chap at The Starter Motor and Alternator Company http://www.startermotor-alternator.co.uk/ was pretty helpful in going through lots of units and giving me dimensions - he can maybe confirm it's a Ford Explorer.

It's the only 'full size' alternator that I could find that fits in front of the right hand cylinder head of an LS with the drive that lines-up with the ribs on the damper. In fairness my damper is spaced off the crank nose by a belt drive to the dry sump pump, but it's a fairly short (but big diameter) unit. Only thing is it mounts 'flat' so the brackets took longer to make up than just the regular pivot bolt style.

[PaulKemp]

I'm wondering why you need 120amps
Is it a road car with air con, big sound system et al
Anything track or race won't need many amps to run the ignition
Battery takes car of cranking amps

[Boosted LS1]

^ It's actually for a Nova kit car with a supercharged zetec engine so won't need many amps to run it but I think the hydraulic rams which lift the hood may need a fair bit of power. I've no idea how much power it'll need but I'd rather have something more then adequate then something inadequate. The shorties above seem to fit the bill size wise and deliver lots of amperage.

Are there any disadvantages to race type alternators apart from cost?

[stevieturbo]

PaulKemp said:

I'm wondering why you need 120amps
Is it a road car with air con, big sound system et al
Anything track or race won't need many amps to run the ignition
Battery takes car of cranking amps

My car just driving runs about 45A.

That's coils, fuel pumps, engine, ecu, ignition etc etc

Throw on the electric fan, and it's closer to 65A, some lights, wipers, etc etc

Really...the current isnt long in adding up sometimes depending on the application.

[Boosted LS1]

tvrolet said:

Said helpfull stuff.

Thanks, I found it. It's a 130 amp ford explorer item that would be easy to fit. I'd need to incorporate a belt tensioner but it's certainly an item to consider.