electrical and ignition 1967 1600 Generator to Alternator change.

[ole1.6]

After years of adding newer electrical items to this old girl, I am finally getting to updating the generator. I had a bolt vibrate free on the old unit and it damaged the generator physically and it seemed like it was no longer charging. The time was right to accommodate the added electric radiator fan and stereo amplifiers. I have been perusing the archives and have seen notes and mentions that only 6v 1600 had Generators so it is in line with many of the electrical inconsistencies on my car . My car is a 12v and the harness is the early 6v type.

I determined the old was not working by starting the car and removing the battery cable while it was running. The result was the car did not run.... 

First question, is that a valid test to determine if you are charging? Second is I am using only 1 wire currently with the new Alternator and no external regulator is connected?  Back to first question, now with the Alternator and the car running, when I remove the battery cable the car stops also.

I will post more photos since its like car guy porn  especially of the new installation.

Thanks for any input.

Eric 

[Arizona02]

test voltage with meter ,aka DVOM, new learning curve on testing wiring circuts.

[HBChris]

Eric,

 

Come by my house and we can check it out.  You have a six fuse wiring harness but that doesn't make it 12V, the generator is 6V.  Your pic is an Alternator, not a generator.  I have a tester, a single wire Alt is a good solution but we need to confirm your electrics.  With a single wire Alt you get rid of the voltage regulator.

 

Chris

Edited May 25, 2016 by HBChris

[Conserv]

Take Chris up on his kind offer, Eric.  You will learn lots.

 

You haven't mentioned your car's VIN.  1600-2's from 1500001 through the 155XXXX VIN's are all 6-volt 1966 and 1967 model year cars.  156XXXX VIN 1600-2's, however, are generally 12-volt 1968 model year cars (156XXXX VIN production began in September 1967), although sporadic reports place isolated factory 6-volt installations as late as January 1968.

 

I'm not certain I believe all of these reports.  The reason I discount some of these reports is because the misconception that the number of fuses equals the voltage of the system is widespread and longstanding.  As stated above, both 6-volt and early 12-volt cars used a 6-fuse fuse box.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

Edited May 25, 2016 by Conserv

[ole1.6]

Chris, Just thinking about you the other day and will definitely take you up un visit and catch up. I have been trying to remember your location to no avail, maybe PM me your address. I'll bring by old and new units

Steve, yes my vin is 1523990 and it is 12v and 6 fuse box.

Odd side note: I have been looking for dash lights that indicate charge/no charge and only see oil light. I can't remember ever seeing a charge light...

Thanks,

Eric

 

[Conserv]

Got it, Eric,

 

VIN 1523990 was probably a May 1967 car and was certainly a 6-volt car when it left the factory.  Besides the alternator shown in your photos, I see lots of non-original cables for the battery, starter, et al.

 

There is a yellow(?) "L" light in the left-most multi-indicator component of the dash cluster (upper right of the four warning lights on that multi-indicator?).  It should illuminate when you are starting the car and when the electrical system is failing to charge the battery.  If you've never seen this illuminated, I'd suspect it's not working.  But I'm also curious how thorough the conversion from 6-volt to 12-volt systems was.  Were all the 6-volt bulbs, motors, instruments swapped out?

 

I owned a 6-volt 1600-2 back in the day and there were only two shortcomings I noted in my use:  (1.) the 6-volt system provided inadequate cranking power when temperatures were 20-ish degrees and below (I suspect this is not a concern for you); and (2.) crankin' stereo systems like my Lear Jet AM/FM 8-track were ONLY available in a 12-volt version so you had to have a 6-volt-to-12-volt converter (transformer) to operate your rockin' stereo.  Yes, of course, chicks loved it.  You pop some Stones in the 8-track and you are cruising!  Why do I mention this, i.e., the limited downsides to 6-volt systems, NOT the chicks and the Stones?  I mention this because -- depending on how you use your 1600-2 -- if someone really did a half-ass conversion of the car to 12 volts, you might even consider returning it to a 6-volt system.

 

Enough for now.  Visit Chris.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

 

 

Edited May 27, 2016 by Conserv

[jgerock]

I don't think removing the battery cable while the car is running to check the charging system is a good idea.  It can damage the generator or alternator.  Lots of VW Beetle generators were replaced back when I used to work on them.

[HBChris]

Eric came by yesterday and we hooked up the blue D+ wire which had no terminal on it and had never been connected.  He now has a charging light for the first time in 18 years.  His Alt is very different with two mounting ears on the Alt and two on the motor.