The Dodge Challenger Message Board

Hello,

Ready to add an alternator to my 72, 440 challenger. Can you guys give me some suggestions (amperage, external regulator, brand name, etc.)? The car will have limited electronics (maybe even a radio!). Will be mostly old school.

Thanks for all the advice.

How about using an original style alternator, (50 amp), from Mancini racing? They make both the "roundback" used from 1960's thru 74 and the squareback used after 1975. They have available two groove or single groove pulley for it and even offer the brackets in natural finish or chrome. They will set you up proper man. They also have them in PowerMaster chrome series as well but you will probably need to upgrade your wiring to a heavier gauge. www.manciniracing.com Yes it will have to be regulated with an electronic regulator and it's 50 amps enough for a radio but not much else. It's what I have in mine. I think Nippondenso makes them for Mancini. With a new wiring harness from M&H, Year One, Bill Evans ect.. you will be good to go!

I thought the square back was 1970 on? Then again. I can't remember which one I even have.

Here the the output spec of the stock alternators.

dave-r wrote:I thought the square back was 1970 on? Then again. I can't remember which one I even have.

Yes, the square-backs are 1970 and up. The other changeover that I know of was for the ignition in 1972. Some car lines may have got the new alternators later than 1970, but I doubt that.

MLMFLCN, if you wan to check, that's easy. If you have 3 leads going to the alt (the output and 2 field wires), you need a square back. If there's just one field lead, it's a round back (those have the second field terminal bent and connected to the alternator body, so there's no second field wire).

For a stock car, even with a radio, stock amperage is more than enough.

If you add a fuel pump, fans, water pump and headlamp conversion, something like the Powermaster 17509 or one of its brethren will be more like it.
As always, I recommend the amp gauge bypass : running a single heavy gauge wire from the alternator output to the starter relay (something like the 30709 Painless wiring kit).

Thanks fbernard & Company

I went with the round back 50amp from Mancini. I need to sort out the output and leads. Looks like 2 leads, but the catelog called for a round back. Stuff should be here Wednesday. I will look then and post a picture and reply.

Thanks again for all the help. Like the binary comment too.

I have mounted a BOSCH 70 amp on my Challenger, but i have also more electronic than original... Electronic fan and stereo and so on.. I had some problems with stock alternator. Had to switch alternator, regulator twice at the time of 3 seasons and got tired...