BCM Community

Ok, my generator is DOA.....want to convert to an alternator. What is a good source? At the moment the bus is positive ground, but I am going to convert it to negative. Also am going to clean all of the terminals in the rear side panel. Is there a good way to do this, besides disassembly and elbow grease? As a side note, my oil pressure, water temperature and charging meter don't work. They just peg out. Working on this problem too.

I've looked at quite a few versions of this upgrade but can't say that there's an end-all answer, and I don't know of a one-stop source for the parts. So why am I replying, right?  ;D

Usually the original generator mounting adapter and drive ring-gear is replaced with a somewhat common accessory drive pulley arrangement, and then a common belt-driven alternator of choice is mounted above the shift rods on a custom built bracket.

There's also the "hen's tooth" option of a direct bolt-on Leece Neville, air-cooled gear-drive alternator.

I think if I were converting one I'd try to  move the brake compressor to the generator  location and then work with the less crowded rear (of bus) location. Of course with a power steering pump that area is crowded too.

Some of the "stuff" in the regulator panel can be culled once the alternator conversion is made.

Ted

I've done this recently.  check this link covering some of it.
http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=19862.msg216660#msg216660 (http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=19862.msg216660#msg216660)
 Asked around at a couple of truck garages  'til I found one (but i live in a city that still has 6-71 in snow removal equipment).  This mod is pretty common which is good for parts, not so good for prices.  There are a couple of different pulley drives, when I was looking it seemed there was one style that bolted directly to the gear and had no further lateral support, I avoided this one.  Most can be found online. After you have bolted the pulley on you need to fabricate a bracket for the Alt, which is pretty easy (but I haven't done it yet).
As to the gear driven alts, when I looked into it, my engine is set up for a direct  drive alt, and the ones available to me were the more common offset drive alt, so I didn't pursue it.  It also appears that the compressor and alt can change places, but I have yet to see pics of an install this way so figure if it works...plus the compressor is more   go/no go equipment than the alt. so it's nice to have it close.