What’s a good one wire chrome alternator?

Mine died tonight. The head lights were dimming, dash lights barely there. Radio acting crazy. I made it home and it died in the garage. The battery is totally dead.

I’m pretty sure it’s the alternator. I checked the grounds and all the hot connections. I don’t have a voltmeter on it but it’s easy enough to check tomorrow.

I found this one from DB:ADR0335-C
it’s about $75
I don’t have chrome now but I figure it’s pretty....lol

 

You already have a good one wire alternator, it’s off the car!!

Put a CS series on it, I’m betting somebody out there makes a chrome version. It will charge better, and give you a warning lamp. Seriously, is 2 or 3 wires REALLY that big a deal? Is 2 or 3 wires worth the hassle of not having a warning lamp, and not being able to walk into any well stocked parts store and getting a replacement?

 

I had a charging failure years ago, swapped in a VR & alt, still NG. Did a little diag, gave up. Installed NAPA 12si single wire and have never had a hiccup or regret. It hopped into the brackets like the hotdog into the bun in the drive in movie trailer, all I did was paint the front of the fan w/ “cast” spray bomb and swap my Z28 style large diameter pulley on it. Removed VR, tucked the wiring behind brake booster, ran a substantial gauge wire to horn relay stud. IIRC the hold down bolt that threads into the case may need to be metric.

Have never had to “manually” excite the VR and is quite up to the task of elect fans, fuel pump, seat heaters (yup, my old back loves em!), moderately substantial stereo and high wattage incandescent headlights. I must admit that I don’t often run it all at once but I have without issue. Voltage will drop sitting at a light idling but goes from 12.xx to 13.8 at tip in.

I get people pinching their nose at the SW, I like things “right” too but I wasn’t going under the dash to look for the problem, wasn’t worth the down time and have never had an issue since.

Mike - It’s not chrome, NAPA 213-4356SW, 94amp output, FWIW. If all you did was lose the alternator then I would likely have it rebuilt, especially if the numbers are correct. If not, just replace it with whichever style you decide on, you’ll get away with the core return on a 12si. I do see some on net that have the blade style fan if you want the look just so. I don’t have any experience with the GM CS alternators but they have a ballpark appearance and are said to be superior to the si series but not sure about mounting/wiring adjustments.

 

I’m not looking for correct. The alternator that failed was a single wire. I tucked the wires away years ago as well. I’m just looking for a little bling and was wondering if one brand was any better than another. I generally go with what’s cheapest.

 

If you want one-wire alt.. I suggest buying one good, and one chromed. Transplant the internals to chrome cover then.

In case you dont find good chromed.

 

Beat me to it.

 

So now that all the wise *** comments have been thrown out there, let’s get back to the subject.

What alternators fit?

is it worth paying more for a Powermaster?

is 100 amp enough?

the Powermaster 17294 seems like it might fit but Amazon says it doesn’t. My guess is it’s because most search’s don’t recognize a one wire as being correct for that year.

 

Any 12SI fits. The CS130 used on the 89-90 307 motors also fit.

 

I used a Jegs 1 wire alternator for about 5 years before it bit the dust. Pretty lame dependability actually since it replaced the OE alternator with an external voltage regulator (even if the OE one was replaced once or twice).

I'm sure you can get a Jegs or Summit brand alternator in chrome if that's what you're looking for. I suggest you don't get the Powermaster, you already said you're on the hunt for whatever is cheapest. FWIW, I replaced the Jegs alternator with one from the auto parts store with a lifetime warranty.