I have a 1964 1/2 mustang. I'd like to see if someone call tell me know
to determine if it has either an alternator or generator. I know that the
early 64's were suppose to have generators and later in 64 they used
alternators. What prompted my attention to this, is the fact that the
in-dash warning light says "ALT" and not "GEN". There doesn't appear to be
any marks on the unit that I can see (from the top). I do know for sure that
it is a 64 1/2 as the date code is 15D (April 15th of 1964).
The generator is physically larger, especially in legth than the alternator.
The is a cooling fan mounted next to the pulley but no slots around the
outside of the generator... only a few slots in the rear face-frame.
Additionally, the generator mounted on the left front of the motor using a
large "Y" shaped casting (this is totally from memories that are much older
than 30 years.
"Patriot" <noneof@your.biz> wrote in message
news:B4idnWExp5wVILXeRVn-1w@comcast.com...
> Hello,
>
> I have a 1964 1/2 mustang. I'd like to see if someone call tell me
know
> to determine if it has either an alternator or generator. I know that the
> early 64's were suppose to have generators and later in 64 they used
> alternators. What prompted my attention to this, is the fact that the
> in-dash warning light says "ALT" and not "GEN". There doesn't appear to be
> any marks on the unit that I can see (from the top). I do know for sure
that
> it is a 64 1/2 as the date code is 15D (April 15th of 1964).
>
> Thanks,
> David
>
>
>The generator is physically larger, especially in legth than the alternator.
>The is a cooling fan mounted next to the pulley but no slots around the
>outside of the generator... only a few slots in the rear face-frame.
>Additionally, the generator mounted on the left front of the motor using a
>large "Y" shaped casting (this is totally from memories that are much older
>than 30 years.
>
>
>
>
>"Patriot" <noneof@your.biz> wrote in message
>news:B4idnWExp5wVILXeRVn-1w@comcast.com...
>> Hello,
>>
>> I have a 1964 1/2 mustang. I'd like to see if someone call tell me
>know
>> to determine if it has either an alternator or generator. I know that the
>> early 64's were suppose to have generators and later in 64 they used
>> alternators. What prompted my attention to this, is the fact that the
>> in-dash warning light says "ALT" and not "GEN". There doesn't appear to be
>> any marks on the unit that I can see (from the top). I do know for sure
>that
>> it is a 64 1/2 as the date code is 15D (April 15th of 1964).
>>
>> Thanks,
>> David
>>
>>
>
Yes... the regulator would be mounted in the same place and would look the
same as the early alternator regulators (this is before we saw solid state
regulators).
When alternators made their first appearance on the market is about when we
started seeing the first "dinosaurs" in the trade. I can't recall how many
horror stories I heard about guys trying to "polarize" an alternator....
Thanks Jim for the info. From what I can figure, it is indeed an alternator.
I managed to dig up a photo of a generator and one of an alternator. So my
next question is, why would someone have replaced the generator with an
alternator and change the warning light on the console. Seems like it would
take away some of the value of the vehicle since it is not entirely
original. Also, i've done alot of reading on serial matching, and how the
engine serial number matches the body, etc. Where would I find the serial
number on the engine? Its an in-line 6 170Cu.In. I'm wondering if perhaps
its not the original engine, maybe?
Thanks again!
David
"Jim Warman" <mechanic@tenalpsulet.net> wrote in message
news:805We.239298$HI.165119@edtnps84...
> Yes... the regulator would be mounted in the same place and would look the
> same as the early alternator regulators (this is before we saw solid state
> regulators).
>
> When alternators made their first appearance on the market is about when
> we
> started seeing the first "dinosaurs" in the trade. I can't recall how many
> horror stories I heard about guys trying to "polarize" an alternator....
>
>
>
Can't tell you which it has. A generator makes an AC voltage that is
rectified through diodes into a dc voltage in a seperate circuit.
Alternaters have this circuit attached to the back of the generators. If you
have a generator there is more than likely a seperate device on the firewall
or inner fender to convert the AC to DC
"Jim Warman" <mechanic@tenalpsulet.net> wrote in message
news:hE3We.239273$HI.1589@edtnps84...
> The generator is physically larger, especially in legth than the
> alternator.
> The is a cooling fan mounted next to the pulley but no slots around the
> outside of the generator... only a few slots in the rear face-frame.
> Additionally, the generator mounted on the left front of the motor using a
> large "Y" shaped casting (this is totally from memories that are much
> older
> than 30 years.
>
>
>
>
> "Patriot" <noneof@your.biz> wrote in message
> news:B4idnWExp5wVILXeRVn-1w@comcast.com...
>> Hello,
>>
>> I have a 1964 1/2 mustang. I'd like to see if someone call tell me
> know
>> to determine if it has either an alternator or generator. I know that the
>> early 64's were suppose to have generators and later in 64 they used
>> alternators. What prompted my attention to this, is the fact that the
>> in-dash warning light says "ALT" and not "GEN". There doesn't appear to
>> be
>> any marks on the unit that I can see (from the top). I do know for sure
> that
>> it is a 64 1/2 as the date code is 15D (April 15th of 1964).
>>
>> Thanks,
>> David
>>
>>
>
>
Whoopsie.... the "Y" bracket, AFAIK, only applied to the V8s. Also, if it
was a V*, all we'd need to do is count the bellhousing bolts to determine
the "numbers" status.
Engine serial number was usually on a flat machined pad somewhere near the
cylinder head mounting surface (Gawd, you know how to stretch an old mans
memory....). You may be further ahead looking at some of the Mustang forums
on the web or checking with the Mustang NG.
"Patriot" <noneof@your.biz> wrote in message
news:R4WdnWu9rIy0frXenZ2dnUVZ_sudnZ2d@comcast.com...
> Thanks Jim for the info. From what I can figure, it is indeed an
alternator.
> I managed to dig up a photo of a generator and one of an alternator. So my
> next question is, why would someone have replaced the generator with an
> alternator and change the warning light on the console. Seems like it
would
> take away some of the value of the vehicle since it is not entirely
> original. Also, i've done alot of reading on serial matching, and how the
> engine serial number matches the body, etc. Where would I find the serial
> number on the engine? Its an in-line 6 170Cu.In. I'm wondering if perhaps
> its not the original engine, maybe?
>
> Thanks again!
> David
>
> "Jim Warman" <mechanic@tenalpsulet.net> wrote in message
> news:805We.239298$HI.165119@edtnps84...
> > Yes... the regulator would be mounted in the same place and would look
the
> > same as the early alternator regulators (this is before we saw solid
state
> > regulators).
> >
> > When alternators made their first appearance on the market is about when
> > we
> > started seeing the first "dinosaurs" in the trade. I can't recall how
many
> > horror stories I heard about guys trying to "polarize" an alternator....
> >
> >
> >
>
>
"Patriot" <noneof@your.biz> wrote
> So my next question is, why would someone have replaced the generator with
> an alternator and change the warning light on the console. Seems like it
> would take away some of the value of the vehicle since it is not entirely
> original.
Are you SURE it's a 64 1/2 then? Remember 64 1/2 is a hobby designation, not
a Ford one, since all 64 1/2's are technically 65's.
They used up what they had on the assembly line until it was gone, so maybe
you got a car with the 64 1/2 front clip but the newer generator and gauge??
I've seen some pretty freaky things happen with the cars from 65 and 66.
--
Scott W.
'66 HCS Mustang 289
'68 Ranchero 500 302
'69 Mustang Sportsroof 351W
ThunderSnake #57 http://home.comcast.net/~vanguard92/
"Michael Seeley" <michaelseeleySPAM@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:Pt5We.12492$FW1.7773@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> Can't tell you which it has. A generator makes an AC voltage that is
> rectified through diodes into a dc voltage in a seperate circuit.
On what planet? Here on Earth generators produce DC. A generator has no
diodes. They have a commutator, not slip rings like an alternator, and the
output is rectified by it.
..
Commutator: A cylindrical arrangement of insulated metal bars connected to
the coils of a direct-current electric motor or generator, providing a
unidirectional current from the generator or a reversal of current into the
coils of the motor.
Thanks for the clarification Al, I believe if you go check an alternato on
your car you can purchase a diode pack to repair it. The problem with using
a DC generator is that Brushes wear out fairly quickly, But if you'd like to
have a more in depth discussion of electrical theory I'd be more than happy
to listen. BTW Edison wanted the grid to be powered by DC
"Big Al" <nospamsal1@qwest.net> wrote in message
news:WV6We.84$4V2.4518@news.uswest.net...
>
> "Michael Seeley" <michaelseeleySPAM@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:Pt5We.12492$FW1.7773@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net...
>> Can't tell you which it has. A generator makes an AC voltage that is
>> rectified through diodes into a dc voltage in a seperate circuit.
>
> On what planet? Here on Earth generators produce DC. A generator has no
> diodes. They have a commutator, not slip rings like an alternator, and the
> output is rectified by it.
> .
> Commutator: A cylindrical arrangement of insulated metal bars connected to
> the coils of a direct-current electric motor or generator, providing a
> unidirectional current from the generator or a reversal of current into
> the coils of the motor.
>
> Al Old enough to know:)
>
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