1-wire Generator

Has anyone used the 1-wire generator look-a-like alternators? For me it's not about looks, it's about keeping the HiLO pump for my plow in place (and one wire simplicity is always nice). I saw them in the Speedway magazine and it got the gears turning.

Here's a couple different ones:

Powermaster PowerGEN 1951-64 Ford 1-Wire Alternators, 12-Volt
Powermaster PowerGEN 1955-64 GM 1-Wire Alternators, 12-Volt

Anyone run one of these?

 

60 amp at idle is pretty good power. That is a neat looking unit. Unreal price.

 

yeah pricey, but niche too..

 

The price didn't really scare me too much, honestly. Rebuilt or reman generators are expensive. Besides the price, these seem like a best of both worlds kinda thing if you gotta run a HiLO.

 

Yeah, I'm diggin' the plain finish ones. Never was one for chrome.

They got pulleys you can swap on. Looks like they all come with skinny belt pulleys. You may be able to swap on the old one.

We'll see how this fresher FHead turns out. I really wanna like it, and I'm not a power junky. If I wanna keep a FHead long term, I'd think this would be ideal for me.

 

I just had a generator and a starter rebuilt for $100 a piece for the 55 I am building. You may have to really search for a shop that knows what a generator is but they are still out there.

 

x2

 

We have a independent shop in town with 30 + years experience. They are the "go to shop" for classic cars and off road and racers. Glad to have them around and always prompt service and reasonable prices.

 

For about $50 you can get a Delco 10SI at your local auto parts. It’s pretty easy to convert the wiring. Just need to feed the main harness and an ignition trigger. I’ve read the one wires do a poor job regulating voltage on a street driven car. I’ll find the info and post it.

 

I remember a thread at one point either here or OldWillys about a guy who would take your generator and convert it to an alt so you kept the exact same appearance. But he was very expensive, like $1,000 as I recall.

GenerNator high amp classic car alternator built inside generator

 

I need the genset housing to keep the stock HiLo pump mounting setup.

 

Is the Denso small enough to allow the HiLo pump mounting?

 

I've been using a 100 amp 1 wire alternator on my Jeep for about 10 years.
It starts, runs, everything works, it hasn't fried the battery. I don't know what more you can ask of it...

 

For what it’s worth about 1 wire alternators...
Catalog

 

Thanks for the link! Good stuff in there.

This answers some questions I have about my 89 Dodge lol. I think for an early 5, though, those cables will be so short it will prolly be about like a tractor. The starter, genset, and battery total about 3' of cable run.

 

Yes one-wire alternators were designed for tractors and are best suited for them. No real reason to ever run one on a street driven vehicle. They are more expensive and don't offer the benefit of a charge light that a 10 or 12 SI do. Once you understand how a 10 or 12 SI is wired it really is a simple thing to wire them in. I have seen a few alternators in generator cases for a more historic look.