Help! Replacing generator with alternator

[MattK]

This is my first post, just found the site. Seems like a great community. But I have a problem and I need some help.

My Dad has a '59 Chevy Apache with a 305 in it. He bought it about a year ago and it still has the original generator on it. Every time he stops at a light the radio cuts off, so I thought for father's day I would replace the generator with an alternator. I figured since he doesn't have power anything (except for the radio), I could run a 63amp alternator with an internal voltage regulator.

Here's the question:
The truck has the external voltage regulator and I was wondering if I can just hook up the alternator and run it through it? Or, do I need to bypass it? Or....?

Any help or tips it much appreciated.

Thanks,
Matthew

[dwcsr]

Welcome to the board. You have to bypass the regulator unless you have one that is old enough. Certainly if you want that look you can fake the wires. Don't use a single wire Alt. They tend to dim at idle as well. go look at www.madelectrical.com and see what they say about wiring up an alt.

[MattK]

Thanks, but I didn't find anything useful for my situation. Anyone else?

[midavis]

I put a alternator on my current '55. My first one had a generator and the regulator didn't work to well.
First get rid of the old regulator. It is not needed with one in the alternator. I just wired mine in like they are in any viehicle with one. It works just fine. You just have to do a little rewiring. Hope this helps. Mike

[Igotachevyor2]

here is the info i used when we put one on a members truck a week or so agoclick me