The alternator on my 1969 Cutlass Supreme went up in smoke yesterday and as the parts store no longer carries cans of alternator smoke to put back in it, I'm going to have to replace the alternator.

My alternator is externally regulated and I was considering replacing it with an internally regulated alternator. I've seen the various threads of using jumpers at the regulator plug, but was wondering if there is a way to wire up an internally regulated alternator with out using the existing external regulator plug with jumpers. Later models that came with internally regulated alternators must have come wired for them without a modification and I figured there had to be a way to wire an internally regulated alt directly.

The wiring in the car is kinda a mess so I'm going to have to tear into it quite a bit anyway so is there a way I can "directly" wire up an internally regulated alt in my car?

Thanks for your time,
Scott

 

I am interested in this also, I don't like the nasty jumper look. I did this conversion years ago on an old Impala that I had but can't remember how I did it, I know it took very little rewiring and I had to put a diode it the wire going to the idiot light.
If anyone chimes in here, explain it like you are talking to a 5 year old. I have no problem pulling the harness back apart to do it in a factory looking way. I have a problem with the conversion wire diaphragms I see, they seem to be speaking greek to me.

 

1. Connect the #1 wire to your ALT light

2. Connect the #2 wire and the big charging wire to the horn relay terminal post.

Done.

- Eric

 

Well that's about as simple as it gets.

Thanks Eric,

Scott

 

The reason for the jumpers is for folks who don't want to alter their stock harness.

 

That makes sense but believe me the wiring harness in my car has definitely been "altered" for a nice way of putting it.

Thanks,
Scott

 

Which wire from the regulator is the Alt light, do you not need a diode in it? I remember that I was getting feed back the last time I did this which caused the light to glow or stay on after the car was shut off or something, like I said it was a long time ago that I did this.

 

X2

I had an external regulator on my 71 442 and I wanted to go with a clean firewall. I picked up an internally regulated alternator and ripped out all the extra wire. I then wired it as about and done! Easy as it sounds. My idiot light was on for some time though but it was charging and everything was working good. Then one day the light just turned off by itself Problem solved, I guess

 

C'mon, you can't even glance at the CSM?

It's the brown one that goes to the "L" (for "Light") terminal.


Nope. There was no diode in the cars that came with one of these from the factory, and you don't need to install one.

- Eric

 

Now now, be nice, not everyone has a CSM, still waiting for mine to come in the mail.

Scott

 

"not everyone has a CSM"
=====================
Such blasphemy!
I thought that was a requirement to enter!!

 

lol

 

But everyone can log on to WildAboutCars and download one for free.
And almost everyone has (You know who you are...).

- Eric

 

Come on we're not are all computer nerds, by the way what is CSM? I'm sorry, you guys use these abbreviations all the time and it's a real PITA to some of us. (Sorry just trying to be humorous)
Thanks for the info I have gleaned so far from this post. This looks like a pretty easy conversion compared to some of the things I have done to this car so far.

 

Jag,

The CSM is the Chassis Service Manual, you can find copies you can use online, however most people purchase their own copy. I just bought mine from American Motorabilia. The CSM is a must have if your going to do any amount of work on your car.

Scott

 

I have one, I forgot I have it.