Alternators: one wire or 3G

[AlanCasida]

I am adding electric cooling fans to my '66 Galaixe so I need to upgrade my charging system. I have a one wire 140A unit (Ford/GM hybrid) on my '65 Mustang Drag-n-drive car and it works fine but I like the idea of a 3G 130A unit from a 95 Mustang because it is pretty much an of the shelf unit. If I go with the one wire it will be the same as my Mustang so I could get a common spare for both.

[gdaddy01]

I like the 3g, have one on my 36 coupe and one on a wood Mizer sawmill, both works well.

[Rory428]

Another vote for the Ford 3G alternator. I swapped a 3G into my 59, replacing the factory 30 Amp generator. pretty simple to hook up, the old voltage regulator can be removed, and it has 130 amps. Bolted right up to the 428, using OE factory Ford alternator brackets, and although not likely a concern on a drag car, the factory GEN dash warning light works normally, and unlike most 1 wires, no need to rev the engine to make the alternator "kick in" and start charging. Plus, if the alternator was to fail, it is a commonly available part, mine is for a 1995 5.0 Mustang, which is dimensionally identical to the older Ford alternators.

[70tp]

Btdt.  3g

[Falcon67]

3G with 3 wire hookup.  Simple, reliable.  Only one wire here in the bitty 50A I use on the dragster.  I use a 3G elsewhere.  Updated the old 1993 F-350 with one also, replacing the fire prone weak sister G2 that was on it.  The voltmeter went from waving like an oil pressure gauge to a steady indicator LOL. 

[AlanCasida]

The issue I had with the 3G alternator was the bolt hole for the tension adjusting bolt was not threaded. Where my alternator is mounted there is no way I could put tension on the belt and tighten a nut/bolt setup. I found these ribbed carriage bolts that I was able to press one into the hole and put a nut on it and it worked out pretty good.

[gdaddy01]

ribbed carriage bolts that I was able to press one into the hole and put a nut on it and it worked out pretty good.    where did you find that bolt ? that could be the solution to a lot of things                                                     

[AlanCasida]

ribbed carriage bolts that I was able to press one into the hole and put a nut on it and it worked out pretty good.    where did you find that bolt ? that could be the solution to a lot of things                                                   

I got them off of Ebay from a place called B & K Fasteners and Metals.

[Mr Woodys Garage]

Go With The 3G The Benefit That Makes It Perfect Is That It Puts Out Higher Amps at A Very Low Driven Speed. Therefore, When You Will Need It Most, To Drive The Electric Fans, Usually At Idle, It Is Up To, And Efficiently Doing Its Job. If You Run An Electric Fuel Pump, Fuel Injection, Or An Electric Water Pump, All The Better! A 3G Makes The "1 Wire Tractor Alternator" Pretty Much Obsolete, And Like Mentioned, Is Available Pretty Much Anywhere There Is A Parts Store. Wiring Is Not That Difficult, A Creative Installer Can Use The Existing harness If Wanted, And As A Previous Commenter Stated, The Charging Light Will Even Work Properly.

[Stangman]

Don’t those alternators have regulators.

[Rory428]

Don’t those alternators have regulators.

If you are refering to a 3G, they have a built in voltage regulator, like most later model vehicles have.

[KMcCullah]

I am adding electric cooling fans to my '66 Galaixe so I need to upgrade my charging system. I have a one wire 140A unit (Ford/GM hybrid) on my '65 Mustang Drag-n-drive car and it works fine but I like the idea of a 3G 130A unit from a 95 Mustang because it is pretty much an of the shelf unit. If I go with the one wire it will be the same as my Mustang so I could get a common spare for both.

Been floggin on a 3G in the red truck for a few years now. Out of a '95 Mustang GT. I converted it to a true 1 wire by swapping the voltage regulator to this one:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/384397023841?hash=item597fd91a61:g:A1kAAOSwUkxhQnxu&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA8GuK2f4RBQ%2BOJ6IjRP7YPZBCT4IAIBN8CzkWnoOVzLEdKvpfkr%2FYTw5MsniP1G3a9A62x92qkjRv6BQdmzXAt6ClYn7JaNXO1%2BoTsiCtIZySd8X3lTeY2%2FJb%2FPiJVVHLsV%2B9xS2wmuWuh4FY54xvvti8KhgzBxzJ0BN7TilBbqfc2wmr455N%2BuAoK2SrVjtj1oE9iXV%2BXsGezg4aFFVYDRZV3aDQ%2FE88x39ehPz0GSvPQ3aXF6eCKx5avwGKbRtwd4o9ezix%2BFmvwiSyoFjnuNBySgdktA3js5mMqVYEYw7q6AScjjN0Itr1OnIlRY7%2F4A%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABFBMgKztlqdg

I realize it's not an "off the shelf" unit now but it made for a super clean installation. It runs everything at an idle (including a pair of mid 90's Taurus fans) with very little voltage drop.

[Stangman]

Rory I was looking and it looked like I would need what KMcCallah was showing with the regulator. I would rather not do that do you have a part number for the proper alternator. I looked up 95 mustang and it looks not right.

[RustyCrankshaft]

Specifically for trucks but has a lot of alternator ID stuff in the thread:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/942250-just-did-a-3g-upgrade.html

You can use almost any pre-mod motor 3G, but they have 3 common outputs - not all are the 130amp. If it's a Rockauto or other generic alternator on occasion I've had to shim the pulley when using the pully off the 1/2G. The OEM Ford's I haven't had to shim.

If your wiring is in good shape you can buy a "dummy" regulator from PA Performance that fits most 60s/70s 1/2G applications and turns the 3G into a plug and play install. If you have the 130 amp you probably want to run a charge wire directly to the battery and bypass the ammeter. In the 67-79 pickups the 95amp ones seem to work fine with all the stock wiring. Never risked the 130 without a new charge wire so can't say what would happen but I'm guessing you'd let the smoke out pretty quick.

[Rory428]

Rory I was looking and it looked like I would need what KMcCallah was showing with the regulator. I would rather not do that do you have a part number for the proper alternator. I looked up 95 mustang and it looks not right.

Not sure why you would "need" a different voltage regulator than the internal regulator already in the alternator. It is only 3 wires, (4 if you count the 3" long white wire that just loops from the alternator to the regulator. I just bought the correct plug with 3 wires , from NAPA.