MGB & GT Forum

There's a company on an auction site that sells internally-regulated alternators that look and mount just like Lucas generators. Seems like a cool idea for my '64 MGB, as I'm definitely not reusing the ancient stock generator when I reinstall the engine. Has anyone actually tried this product, or one like it? I was planning to use a new Lucas, Bosch, or Delco alternator, but this would look much more original than any of those. I already know all the pros and cons of the known alternator swaps, but I'm looking for info on this particular product. Thanks in advance for any info.

You do not mention which brand you are asking about?

This is a popular fitment in the UK as attention to detail of vintage cars is much higher there.
I have read good reports from one of my other car forums about the Powerlite product, (link below) . This firm supplies wiring instructions etc.

http://www.accuspark.co.uk/dynamator.htm

http://www.powerlite-units.com/about-dynalites/

A nice upgrade for sure although I elected to remain with my dynamo.

Bruce

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Life's most persistent and urgent question is, "What are you doing for others?"

http://www.mgaguru.com/mgtech/electric/ac210.htm

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Eric Russell ~ Mebane, NC
1961 MGA #61, 1981 Alfa Romeo GTV6, 1984 Alfa Romeo Spider, 1991 Honda ST1100

The issue I see is the added cost of the alternator that looks like a generator. Since my B is still positive ground and doesn't have a radio I plan on remaining stock in this area. Last winter I replaced the brushes on the generator and have no issues. Have fun with your upgrade.

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If you hit your pony over the nose at the outset of your acquaintance, he may not love you, but he will take a deep interest in your movements ever afterwards.



Rudyard Kipling

Tact is the ability to tell someone to go to hell in such a way that they look forward to the trip.

Winston Churchill

X2, New brushes, a couple of drops of oil and your good to go. We don't need no stinkin' new fangled alternata' gizmo!

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• The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.
• To the intelligent person, life appears infinitely mysterious, but the stupid have an answer for everything.
First rule of forum debate:
• My opinion becomes truth if I can find one other person, on the Internet with the same opinion. It is 'chiselled in stone" if I find two!

" We don't need no stinkin' new fangled alternata' gizmo! "

Should we ever cross paths I'll be mindful not to open my bonnet

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Mk1: CKD 11/66 first registered 8/5/67; owned since 3/77. 18GB +40 balanced. Peter Burgess BVFR head. Piper 285. 123. FidanzaFW. 4synch c/r box. Lots more as I did a nut and bolt rebuild; finished 2015. Tartan Red.

GT: December '78. VW Golf guards, flush fit front and rear valances. Torana XU1 vents, frenched indicators & Mk1 rear lights. 'Worked' Rover V8 with Monsoon ECU for EFI. GM4L60E, Lokar tiptronic & Quick4 controller. Vintage Air A/C. FC IFS. CCE 4 link rear. Salisbury with Quaife. Jaguar Storm.

British parts Northwest sell this one.

https://www.bpnorthwest.com/mg/mgb/engine-electrical/alternator-generator-c40-style-negative-ground.html

Don't let the poopooers stop you from doing what you want with your car. It does seem an odd mod. As others have said the generator is perfectly capable of doing everything necessary with the exception of a modern stereo, gps, etc. If you're putting that stuff in then keeping the original look under the bonnet seems, I don't know, incongruous? My opinion shouldn't matter if that's what makes you happy but I will say that my generator is the original made in 63. My 76 went through a few alternators while I had it. I did have my generator rebuilt by a local electronic repair place. I hear the moss rebuilds come from China and are not of the best quality.

This resembles those fully electronic distributors which look like Lucas 25D or 45D originals on the outside, but have a completely different internal system. I am not speaking of points replacement sets put inside a Lucas unit of course.

One can fill pages and pages full of opinions, leading nowhere: you either like them or you don't

PS Of course this means changing to negative earth for those who didn't before. Another area of dispute: negative earth is a strange diversion from standard practice, but once built in some of our members see virtue in retaining this anomaly

First, thanks for all the replies, guys and gals. I'll probably go with one of these units to keep the appearance original.

Someone asked the following question, despite the fact that my post was simply to ask if anyone had actual experience with the alternator-in-a -generator-costume things and their reliability:

"Do tell us Colin why you are "definitely not reusing the ancient stock generator when you reinstall the engine."? You are reusing the ancient engine, gearbox, etc., I presume because you have rebuilt it or had some work done. Why not have some work done to the generator or get it rebuilt? "

OK, you asked:

1. The generator sucks. It puts out a meager 22 amps, max, and in 1964 was barely adequate to charge 2 original 6-volt batteries with about 300 CCA, max. Once ANY electrical accessories are turned on, it becomes inadequate at anything under highway speeds.

2. Have you driven your generator-equipped MG at night, in the city, with the headlights, wipers, blower fan and/or radio on? At a stop, with the brakelights added to the mix, wipers barely move, headlights dim, blinkers blink slowly if at all, etc. And yes, my generator was functioning perfectly and is original to the car. I live in Boston and sit in traffic a lot.

3. With a modern single 12-volt battery and Lucas H4 headlights, the silly, very heavy generator is woefully inadequate for my otherwise stock car. Why do you think every car made after about 1965 has an alternator? Probably because they produce full amperage at idle rpm, unlike a generator, so the battery is always being charged while the car is running, regardless of rpm or how many electrical draws are operating.

4. There's nothing wrong with improving the function of a classic car without essentially altering it. Do you still have points ignition and tar top 6-volt batteries, too? If so, have fun. I like my car to start when I want to drive it, and I like the headlights bright when I drive it at night, etc.

I've rebuilt the engine (original 3-main) the gearbox, (original 3-sync) brakes (original except dual circuit for safety) suspension (bone stock), etc., and I've kept the car very original. For example, I painstakingly rebuilt the original Lucas crash starter rather that getting a modern starter because I like the sound of the crash starter. Obviously, I will keep the original generator in a box somewhere, along with the "control box" (the car will have a gutted control box case for appearances sake). the ignition points, the original spare tire, and other original stuff that I've upgraded to make the car more reliable and/or safer. A reliable classic car that you can actually drive daily is much more fun to own than a show queen, for whatever my opinion is worth. :-)

Colin,
I agree with you that adding a 'modern' battery management system to your car is a good thing. I will mention again as I did in my post, that you install a 'good' (read quality) one or your efforts will be wasted.

One of the links in my post is a quality one, and this firm can provide a 'dummy' control box, (below) that contains a fuse. Another good thing.

Your #3 & #4 concern can & should be addressed with the use of relays, [below] (high & Low beam each). Achieved with a period under bonnet appearance, Lucas SRB402 & braided wire. Another good thing.

I made up my own relay kit, and I addressed my radio & GPS installations using a power inverter [below] (I maintain the positive earth) . Another good thing.

Just another way to achieve what you are after.

I repeat, go for it, just do it correctly.

Bruce

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Life's most persistent and urgent question is, "What are you doing for others?"

Just to be clear. While I am happy with the simplicity of my generator, I hope you understand that my other comments were 'tongue in cheek'. The subsequent comments by the 'resident troll' I reported.

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• The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.
• To the intelligent person, life appears infinitely mysterious, but the stupid have an answer for everything.
First rule of forum debate:
• My opinion becomes truth if I can find one other person, on the Internet with the same opinion. It is 'chiselled in stone" if I find two!

I understood your comment to be in good humor. I was just clarifying why I'd want to "paint a mustache on the Mona Lisa" by upgrading the generator. :-)

I plan to add relays for the headlights, and that dummy control box looks great. I'll get one of those, as well.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017-02-24 09:32 AM by CMCon98.