fbekholden.com

I'm guess it would be a good idea to upgrade the alternator cable if upgrading the alternator to a 80A or so.

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Clint , the alternator I have is a direct replacement for a 5 litre VR/VS - its a 70 A OEX brand , cost me $260 - yours for $150 , its never been out of the box.

Blacky wrote:Clint , the alternator I have is a direct replacement for a 5 litre VR/VS - its a 70 A OEX brand , cost me $260 - yours for $150 , its never been out of the box.

thanks for the offer blacky i would take it but I feel I may need a higher current rating.


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When I'm home next ill tong the vehicle and crunch a few numbers for extra current draw from number 3 and 4 thermo fan i'll be adding plus stereo with sub and amp.
I've done a little reading and seems there is a thing called hot idle which supposedly drops the alternator rating down to around half on the really hot summer days when at idle at stop signs ,peak hour and traffic lights when every thing consuming power is demanding more plus volt drop = current increase to keep up and cool things down etc.
I'm thinking around a 100a which should only have to work around 50% on the hot summer days and a nice big up graded alternator lead to battery.

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Hi Clint,
You may have a good reason space wise for running the smaller battery. Replacing with a big one seems the easiest and obvious first step, or am I missing something?


FB ute fixer upper, EK van on rotisserie

Errol62 wrote:Hi Clint,
You may have a good reason space wise for running the smaller battery. Replacing with a big one seems the easiest and obvious first step, or am I missing something?


FB ute fixer upper, EK van on rotisserie

Yes mate it was due to the ac compressor going in down low on the passengers side that relocated the alternator up high encroaching in the battery tray leaving very light space.
I didn't want the battery in the boot due to fumes, the hassel of a box amd cabling and didn't have much power draw before to worry the vehicle so all was well so to speak. But since the few additional power suckers and more to come the 40a also ain't going to cut it specially on the hot summer days like the plus 40s we have had lately.
I think I'm going to have to bite the bullet, I'm going to box out and build a false floor in the boot over the tank to cover the pump and new lines and carpet it nice and neat so may aswell incorporate a battery box aswell.

I've done a rough add up of power consumption that I can think of and roughly guess.
I'll do an individual confirmed calculation next time I'm home.

A/C unit complete fuse=30A
(comp 4A? ,blower+unit 20A?)
Tail / Stop light 1 .5A / 2A
Tail / Stop light 2 .5A / 2A
Head light 1 3A /5A
Head light 2 3A /5A
A/C condesor fan 1 7A
A/C condesor fan 2 7A
Stereo 5A
Sub and amp 7.2A
Sniper fuel pump 10.4A
Sniper efi unit whole 10A ?
Ek wind screen wiper A?
12v outlet/ charger A?
Radiator thermo fan 1 7A
Radiator thermo fan 2 7A
98.6A



That escalated quickly, at worst with most of it on, sitting at the lights at idle with ac blower on high speed, brake lights also on I got up 98.6A.

You will notice the handling improve and battery should last longer. Big fat cables and bigger battery to negate voltage drop add to the weight though.


FB ute fixer upper, EK van on rotisserie

I fitted a VE battery box in the left hand rear quarter of the rattler , went in quite easily .
Was $25 from the Commode wrecker in Malaga and that included the leads.NorthCom in Irvine Road

Blacky wrote:I fitted a VE battery box in the left hand rear quarter of the rattler , went in quite easily .
Was $25 from the Commode wrecker in Malaga and that included the leads.NorthCom in Irvine Road

Thanks for the tech tip I'll look into that for sure.

Page 13 of the red rattler revamp thread mate - might give you some ideas -

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=23121&start=180

Blacky wrote:Page 13 of the red rattler revamp thread mate - might give you some ideas -

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=23121&start=180

Red rattler whats that? must be a build from back in the day.
Thanks mate will check it out.

I upgraded to black aeroflow 140A
I also upgraded to some large flex cables to allow higher charge.
At idle now I have a solid 13.8 volts and it sits constant around there. Just at idle it's has a draw of 34a so the old 40a wouldn't cope anyways. Also installed a 6 blade fan may help at the traffic lights in those high 30deg days. Probably need a shroud though.
Also found plenty of melted something from the back of the old alternator when I pulled it out. So a double win anyways but not to get to far ahead of the win went for a cruise and on the freeways the Speedo made some average noises bounced all over the place then stopped then went back to normal then stopped working completely.

Is there a general something in the speedo that fails or once they are done they are done . ?

Hi Clint
My Speedo (original style) did similar. Cable was busted however the Speedo was very hard to turn at the back of the head. That is why the replacement cable also busted.

Had to dismantle Speedo and put a drop of fine machine oil, been all good since.
Stephen

Good news on the voltage. So you kept the small battery then?

Sounds like your cable may have sheared, and possibly speedo partially seized as Stephen says. Old cars huh.

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