do I need new alternator?

[blackdog1]

I'm getting a new Boss 8' superduty installed on Tuesday. It will be going on a 1980 Chevy K30 srw. I look Today at the build sheet and see it is only equiped with a 63 amp alternator! Will I need to replace and upgrade this? Will running dual batteries in parallel take care of the need? Please help as I don't want to get my truck back with a nice new plow that the truck s not equipped to handle.I found it funny that it has such a low amp alternator. This is a factory equipped heavy duty tow package truck.Thanks for any help.

[wyldman]

Install dual batteries,the biggest you can find.A group 65 is probably your best bet,they have the most reserve capacity,and can be easily made to fit.

Bosch has a reman 100 amp alternator that bolts right on.Be prepared to replace belts often,as the single belt will have a hard time with a 100 amp alternator.You can upgrade the pulley (alt,WP,and crank) to the newer style ribbed belt setup used on the 85-86 cars\trucks.This will solve your belt problems.

I have this setup on our trucks,and it works flawlessly.Before we were lucky to go a couple of hours before the battery would start to get run down.

[blackdog1]

Wyldman, Will a replacement pulley from a 85-86 truck bolt right on? Something I could pick up at the local auto parts store? Where is a good place to find the heavy gauge wire to run the 2nd battery? The truck came with dual batteries but the wiring looks very small and I would want to beef them up. Thanks for all the help. This place is the BEST!

[wyldman]

I would use 0 gauge for the cable,which you can buy premade in various lengths,or make your own.Premade is nice,just bolt them on.

If you going to the trouble to do all the battery wiring,I would do a remote starter solenoid conversion too.Get a Ford fender mount starter solenoid (dirt cheap),and mount it on the fender.Ue a short cable from the battery to solenoid,and another from the solenoid to the starter.You will need to make up a jumper or steel plate to connect the small starter solenoid wire to the big battery wire at the starter.While your under there,remove all other wires from the starter,and pull them up to the top.You can now extend them,and run the original solenoid wire to your new Ford starter solenoid.The other wires with fusible links can be extended and run to the battery.This will prevent those wires from getting burnt up\corroded,and it will start much better too.

To connect the batteries,just use two 0 gauge cables between the two,positive to positive,and negative to negative (or engine block).Also run a 4 ga cable from the alt positive stud to the battery positive.

I would use the group 65 batteries.Top post (easier to connect),and usually 1000 CCA with 120 Min reserve.

The pulleys are easy to find in a wrecking yard.You will need the crank,water pump,and alternator pulleys (or get an alternator with the right pulley on it already).What I usually do is cut the extra A\C belt groove off of the water pump pulley,and then run dual power steering belts as well.Use two new matched belts.

[BRL]

"remote starter solenoid conversion"

I've seen this term a few times lately. What does this mean exactly? When I think of remote starter I think of the cars & trucks that people start with their alarm\entry\etc switches on their key chains from inside their cozy homes. Did i miss that part in this description, or am I not understanding what the purpose of that is? Thanks.

[wyldman]

GM has a starter solenoid on the top of the starter.When you turn the key to start,it sends power on the solenoid wire,to engage the solenoid.They also have all the hot battery feeds attached there too.Heat and corrosion is a problem here,as it's right under the manifold,and exposed to road spray.Heat make the solenoid hard to engage,and draws a lot of current.

A Ford (typically) uses a remote solenoid,and everything is tied in there.No heat issues,and less corrosion.

The conversion basically just bypasses the solenoid on the starter,and moves it up top.Makes it handy to,as if you have a problem,you can easily jump the solenoid up top to get it started.

[BRL]

Thanks! As an owner of a Ford & a Chevy, now I know why there is a solenoid on the fender of the Ford only ;) Makes a lot of sense to change that over.