Converting generator to alternator for 64 caddy

[Richard McBurney]

Hello Everyone

This site has been a wealth of info and I say thank you

I want to convert my 64 caddy from a generator model to to an alternator. 

Any suggestions on

1- correct alternator,

2- wiring needed

3- brackets needed for the alternator

appreciate your feedback 

Rick McBurney

[Kevin Campbell]

Jason or Russ to the front counter please. Customer waiting.

[Russ Austin]

The first year for an alternator was in 1963. The shop manual calls it a generator, but it was the first year for a Cadillac.  So, your 64 does have an alternator.

Unless you do have an alternator, and then I suspect you have an earlier engine installed in your 64.

[Anders]

Didn't really know the difference of an alternator vs a generator so had to look it up. Maybe somebody else needs to be reminded:

Got this from Alternator vs. Generator: What's the Difference?

[Tony and Ginny 429]

If you are looking at a generator it would be black and about a foot long ( aprox )
If you are looking at an alternator you are looking at a whitish metal
( aluminum look ) that is about 8 inches wide
The 64 dash indicates it is a generator by the light there that makes it a bit confusing as you still have an alternator under the hood in 64

All General motors cars from 63 foward came with an alternator ( a wonderful upgrade )

If you do have a generator you may have an engine from a 62 or earlier car
A very different 390 engine than the 63 390
That should help you identify what you have easily to determine which direction you want to go regarding your charging system

If you do have a generator going to the alternator is a sound idea to improve the cars reliability
Generators would fail as a rule back in the day every 3-4 years and need to be replaced
The alternators hold up for the very long haul in comparison and gives you a full charge at idle unlike the generator that keeps the battery in a better overall condition
Battery and generator life was very much more --short lived with a generator

Enjoy

[Clovis]

Technically an alternator is a generator. It's just different names for basically the same thing. Something that turns rotational energy into electrical energy. Before generators they had magnetos I believe. They all generated power to run a car, as technology improved the design manufacturers wanted to differentiate between them as selling points, hence the name changes. As noted the dash light still said GEN when there was a problem with the charging system on some of the first cars that had an alternator. This is because that is what they actually do, generate power. AC current is much more efficient than DC is this is why it's generated and converted to DC through the diodes of older alternators and through voltage regulators of even older ones.

All this information is subject to change just like my memory!