Did a scan this morning on my red Z28 & found low ignition voltage. I raised the hood & smelled the alternator getting hot & O'reillys verified it is bad. The GM manual shows 140 amp is stock rating, so why do some fellas install 160 amp (or higher amp) alternators on their LT1s? I have an Optima red top battery, MSD ignition parts, and a stereo amp in the car. Should I consider installing a higher amp unit now or would it be overkill?

 

More electrical accessories require more amperage. Typically the people who require higher amperage alternators are the guys with heavy-hitting stereos. For a performance application with a smallish amplifier a stock alt is more than enough.

 

im running dual amps on my stereo system and have no problem with stock alternator. Very little light fade even with ac on high and headlight and stereo thumpin.


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Maybe it's helpful to have a high amp alternator when ya relocate the battery to the rear of the car. I recall a member postin' they had a 160 amp alternator in their car but not recalling the reason they installed it. There's a racing shop here in town that sells high amp alternators...but they ain't cheap.

 

Have one of the parts stores check out the charging system and see how much current is being pulled with everything on during a hot day.

 

No, they just go out like robots & hookup their meters that are like oversized DTC reader/reset meters they sell. BUT, now that ya mention it, I thought about reading my GM manual to see if there is a test procedure to isolate the overcurrent being drawn in the circuit even though no fuses are blown. They tested my red Z28's battery & alternator @ operating temp. in the car, then the alternator off my white Z28 on a machine in the store, & both tested bad. I say " they verified" my red car's alternator to be bad cuz ya can smell it getting hot.

 

140 amps = good enough.

160+ amps ain't gonna hurt a thing.

When getting your replacement, get what's available.....as long as it's at LEAST 140 amps .

KW

 

My bad slopokrodrigez...I read your reply like it was a question. I'm gonna go to another Oreillys store where I know the manager...he can show me what you suggested. Problem is there's road construction in front of his store & I didn't wanna sit in any line with this problem goin' on. If it comes down to it I can do like KW Baraka mentioned and go with the 140 amp.

 

Took my white Z28s alternator to a shop specializing in starters, alternators, generators, etc. & their test showed it to be good. Makes me wonder 'bout O'reillys now. This place has been in business since 1944 & it looks like it! Parts in piles everywhere & they know EXACTLY where things are at they're looking for, no computers, and documentation done with pen & paper!!! Anyway, I'm gonna swap it into my red Z28 & go back to test that car's alternator. Onward through the fog...