amp gauge and alternator

I recently got around to replacing the frozen amp gauge in my '74. Would it be better to switch to a volt gauge??
I'm thinking of upgrading my alternator as well. I have the standard 55 amp single wire. I think its a little weak with all of the extras running at once. Options?? Thanks.

 

The Amp gauges are known to cause electrical fires. A voltmeter would be far more useful.

 

I made this change on my 1973 cj5. Check out www.madelectrical.com for some solid advice - also search this site, lots of guys have done it. I agree with Crawl - it can avoid future fires under the dash - lots of juice runs through that little amp gauge. It would be kind of discouraging to see all your wiring melting away. It did not happen to me but it has happened to lots of Jeeps. AMP gauges are a disaster waiting to happen.

 

Amp has been changed to volt. Works well. Now the alt upgrade.

 

Is there a bolt on, single wire alternator upgrade I can use?? I'd rather not mess with brackets if I don't need to. Maybe a junk yard option??

 

IMO the single wire alernator is not the best option. Last year I installed a GM CS 130 in my 304, in anticipation of future TBI. Plus the ol Motorola was acting up. It was fairly easly and is supposed to be the better route to go over one wire. There is a ton of info out on "That there internet" to be had.. The only things I had to modify were the post/bracket that connects to the block and wiring. I bought a plug with wire pigtails at Napa, and a bit of fuse wire.

 

Any idea what vehicles used the cs 130???

 

A quick search found this - http://www.extreme4wheelin.com/tech/alternators/tech.htm

I don't think there's any compelling reason to pick a CS130 over a 10SI or 12SI. Go to the junkyard and look under the hood of GM cars. You can clock these alternators to any orientation you want, so I'd just pick what I could find cheap.

Lots of good information on the Mad Electrical site: http://www.madelectrical.com/electricaltech/delcoremy.shtml

 

Any issues with pully size??

 

I chose the CS 130 after researching the subject. This model seemed to fit my needs better than the others. The 10 Si or 12 Si will also work as noted. I bought mine online, but can't recall where.. The one I purchased came with a pulley attached. The biggest issue, which is easily solved is that the mounting boss is wider on the CS 130, etc. I simply removed the rod like piece connecting to the block, measured the difference between the two alts and shortened accordingly. I had a machinist at work cut it to length on his lathe, turn it to the proper diam and re-thread.

Tim the biggest reason I chose a 130 was the stable voltage at idle..

 

Here's a few links to check out/.

http://bob_skelly.home.comcast.net/~bob_skelly/alternator_conversion/wiring_alternator1.html

http://www.junkyardgenius.com/charging/alt01.html

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f8/how-do-i-wire-chevy-alternator-1123262/

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f8/loss-about-my-charging-system-683164/

 

Mine is a 12 SI - they are available at the junk yard or any autoparts store - standard GM alternator - It's 3 wire, not a 1 wire, with a built in regulator.

 

For help with a 10SI or 12SI check out page 5 of the "You're An idiot" restoration thread - really good pics - He shows you how to rewire for a built-in regulator-type alternator.