Thread: CS144 Alternator Upgrade

Damn, I might have to look into that...

I'm ready to if I could find part numbers and such. I haven't looked to far into it though. Once it cools back off for winter (and I can't work on the car outside anymore) I'll be building an external rectifier set up as well. It might get me a bit more output, but it'll be cleaner power and redundancy...and a nifty little side project.

IIRC the rectifier I bought off ebay was identical to the one I got from AP.com, except for the fact it worked of course. Same model number on the hardware, same everything.

If you put in the Sense wire with a diode like ZZP suggests, you can bump output

The voltage regulators are already set at 14.7v, I don't see why anyone would want 15.4v all the time. The Thermister is one thing since it is based on temperature, but all the time would be a bit much. Some of the really beefy system guys or the guys that want a **** ton of voltage for their fuel pumps could do it on a switch or even install a potentiometer on the sense line.

So I don't know if this will work with the 05+ Grand Prix because of the stupid current sensor and how the regulator is run off of a PWM signal...anyone know about this at all?

I'll take a look at my alternators do the 130 and 144 share the same regulator setup? I can rig up an alternator test stand and a PWM circuit and see if it responds but it will probably be after the next week or 2. I'll see if I can setup to read my field wire.

Jeff

edit: looks like I have a 130D laying around.

Finally picked up a 144. Couldn't find a bracket. Is this the one I need booba?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000IY...maro+tensioner

And I forgot to cut off the wire harness. Does the stock one fit? The car I pulled the alt from only had one wire coming out. Not 2 like in your op.

Factory plug will not fit, if it only had 1 wire then it won't have the sense wire. If you want you can add it, but it's not required. Yep, that's the right bracket.

Oh well, just an excuse to go back to the yard. Thanks

Yeah. That will work. James pointed out a good detail. The 97-98 brackets have the coolant elbow as part of the bracket. So of it breaks it can not only ruin your bracket but also your timing cover.

i had to switch to a early model bracket / tensioner setup to use my older alternator. I also picked the camaro set up. Only issue I have not fixed yet is the heater hose couplers. I will be making a "L" shaped bracket to hold them in place.

Originally Posted by Crazyguy03

Yeah. That will work. James pointed out a good detail. The 97-98 brackets have the coolant elbow as part of the bracket. So of it breaks it can not only ruin your bracket but also your timing cover.

i had to switch to a early model bracket / tensioner setup to use my older alternator. I also picked the camaro set up. Only issue I have not fixed yet is the heater hose couplers. I will be making a "L" shaped bracket to hold them in place.

That's what I did. Wasn't that hard:


I also mentioned the 99 Camaro bracket in the OP, and I showed what the other bracket breaks if used.

Originally Posted by Booba5185

That's what I did. Wasn't that hard:


I also mentioned the 99 Camaro bracket in the OP, showing what it breaks if used.

Wait, the 99 camaro bracket has the non removable elbo?

I dunno if you have or not, but you need better charge wires, and a better ground would help, too. Nice thing is the CS144 has a spot to ground right on the back of it, which is RIGHT behind the bridge rectifier. I'm working on going to full 1\0 AWG, but my local car audio shop ran out of it so I only was able to make the charge wire for now:

Why do you have 2 power wires coming off it?

I have the factory wire and the 1\0 AWG wire, the black pre-made wire is the ground I was talking about. It will get 1\0 AWG soon, once they get 1\0 AWG back in stock. I know I could get it cheaper online, but my cousin owns the shop and I like to support local shops and such.

Worked for me it's not the prettiest and I just used what I had on hand and didnt feel like running downtown the hardware store for some angle steel.


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The Camaro bracket has 2 removable elbows, it's the one you want:

Alternator bracket out of a 99 Camaro 3.8l. It may be available in other vehicles, but Rockauto has conflicting information on it. (optional on 97-98 Grand Prix)
Now a 97-98 Grand Prix alternator bracket will work, but the coolant elbow that goes into the timing cover is cast into the bracket so it can break the timing cover on removal. This is the 97-98 Grand Prix bracket:

Here's what it can do:

Here's the Camaro bracket:


Pay attention to the heater hose angles, they can be 180* or 90* make sure you get the same angle you currently have (180*). Not all of the fittings bolt on the same way, as you can see in my picture of the installed bracket:

Booba if you ever want to sell me a pre-made wire kit let me know. I'm running out time trying to source wire , terminal ends with the correct size holes , the mesh shrink wrap over the wire casing , etc

OK, cool. I just got confused when you said "I also mentioned the 99 Camaro bracket in the OP, showing what it breaks if used." Sounded like you were saying the opposite.

Thinknim sorted now. Thanks.

You're right, I'll edit that.