Generator to Alternator conversion

The issue: We measured 12 volts across the battery both when the car was and was not running, and the GEN light stayed on even when running.

Funny thing. Charles had actually mentioned the possibility of the Generator to Alternator conversion on my Falcon. I considered it, but was more interested at the time of just making the generator work correctly. While researching the correct wiring configuration of our generator, we discovered, based on a picture we saw (they nothing alike!),

that the device under the hood of my car was, in fact, an alternator. After another more in depth look at what we had, we realized that someone had attempted this conversion before. However, based on the wiring configuration used by whoever that was, we knew that person never got it working correctly.

Charles found an excellent picture of how the GM 3-wire alternator (yes, GM) was supposed to be connected. There is a plastic plug with two wires that connect to the two terminals on the alternator. These wires were reversed (reversed only if you care about proper color code, which I do). We switched the wires around in the plug. We connected the other wire to Field on the OEM voltage regulator attached to the car next to the radiator. Now, we measure ~14 volts across the battery, and the GEN light goes out like it should.

An aspirin and a cough drop

I am here to report success. Let's see...measurement tools acquired recently would be a compression gauge (haven't used it yet), inline spark tester (fantastic), a timing light (unbelievable tool), and a business card (really?).

After adding the new carb and discovering that the spark had left us again, we changed the points. My dad said changing the points is a like giving a car an aspirin. I had never changed points before (didn't really understand what they were), and I was unsure what affect this would actually have. I am humbled in my shear amazement of the result. The width of a business card was the suggestion of another coworker for the gap measurement. Thank you Billy. That was perfect. That Falcon started like it couldn't wait to go somewhere.

So, we could start the car just fine, but when we gave it some gas, it hesitated at best, and usually just died. We had wondered about the timing, and had inquired at multiple locations about a loaner timing light, but at this time I still hadn't acquired one. I finally said let's go buy one.

Now this brings me to a side note for a moment. Why is it that the parts store sells a timing light (and yes, Mr. Parts Store person, it is called a timing light, not a timing gun...it says Timing Light right on the packaging...it just happens to be in the shape of a gun for easy handling by humanoid creatures with opposing thumbs, but it isn't really a gun; it's a light...but I digress), but does not sell any sort of tool to use for marking the pulley such as a grease pencil or paint pen? My understanding is that this is a required tool, along with the timing light, to properly check said timing. If this is the case, wouldn't it make sense for the manufacturer to simply include such a simple marking device with the timing light, and just mark up the total price a little more? Whatever, a dollar and change at the dollar store got me a bottle of correction fluid...you know...that white stuff you use to cover pen markings in school that got you lower grades because you were to lazy to consider that a rough draft and just write it again...or maybe that was just me. Task complete.

I find this crazy blinking light fascinating; not hypnotizing, but fascinating. Anyway, in under 5 minutes (including the time to bring cylinder #1 to TDC, but not including the trip to the store for the light) we determined that the car was out of time; eyeball-estimated at 10-12 degrees retarded. In accordance with the research we had done, we found and loosened the retaining bolt, turned the distributor cap until the white mark was 6 degrees advanced of TDC.

Now, not only does the car start, but we can give it some gas, and it doesn't die. It doesn't even sputter. Charles said the car sounded like it was coughing when it was out of time, and I agree, so I suppose checking the timing is like a cough drop.

Wanna see this Falcon go?