Ran across this ad for a "1969" Olds open-face alternator. What's wrong with this picture?



Hint: Here's what a real one looks like:

 

appears to be missing hole?

 

The correct back for the 1969 alternator has the diamond-shaped finned area for cooling the voltage regulator. The one in the ad does not. That's a later model 12SI back. The one in the ad is apparently a franken-alternator and likely restamped.

Note the finned areas. The first photo is correct (actually, it is a 1970, but 69 is nearly identical), the second is from the ad.

 

It says this at the bottom of the ad...

"You are bidding on a very nice reproduction alternator with open face housing casting # 1100853 dated 8M18 ( Dec 18th 1968 ) that has been completely rebuilt ready to bolt on. This was used on the HP 1969 Oldsmobile 442 HO Hurst . High bidder to pay 15.00 shipping. "

 

So apparently "reproduction" means "cobbled together from parts that may or may not look correct".

 

Maybe he should of used the word... Tribute or Clone

 

 

in reality tho, how many year correct alt housings still exist? and what are peoples odds of finding them (and what are the odds of a concours judge knowing the diff?)

 

A concourse judge better know the difference.

 

Im pretty sure this is accurate

 

Just the the repo H/O intakes, heads, re-stamped distributors that are out there.

 

The fundamental difference with the stuff Chris Witt was doing is that he always made sure everyone knew the parts were fabricated, and marked them as such. The restamped distributors and cobbled, restamped carbs sold on ebay, unfortunately are exactly like this alternator. One needs to be an educated buyer.

 

I missed your point on this alt. then ,
as Eric noted in the description that this was a reproduction alternator

 

I expect reproduction parts to be, oh, REPRODUCTIONS of the original. All this seller did was take one of the open face front frames used on Caddys, a newer 12SI rear frame, and call this a "reproduction". Look, $145 is high but not stupid money for a rebuilt alternator, and this will fool 90% of the people who look at it once installed. The point of my post was to educate people who might think it was an ACCURATE "reproduction". Yes, I do know what correct 69-70-71 alternators are worth.

 

They are still out there, but when you find one be prepared to pay accordingly.. I found these from a vendor at the Pate meet this year. He had both versions for the same price.