alt or generator?

what do most of you guys run in your early cj5's i have a 55 and currently it has an alternator in it i know its not factory or anything because these came with generators. im not against running the alternator because it will probably be more reliable than the generator, correct? also what size belt do i need? looks like it needs somthing pretty thin. i would probably need the factory length becuase the alternator is in the same place the generator goes in.

can somone explain to me how a generator works?

 

Somewheres in my dozens of Jeep links, I have a link to some place that sells a kit to convert from a generator to an alternator, must be on the home PC.

IIRC, I think it mentioned replacing the pulley on the alternator, for either the belt size or diameter to get it to run the right speed, but I'm thinking belt size, because of the crankshaft and water pump pulleys.

Can't explain the difference, but alternators are mo' better. Putting one on my '56 I believe (not there yet).

 

Willys works has the bracket to allow you to switch from a generator to a Delco 10SI (GM) alternator. It's pricey and since I think you said you had an alternator already, probably unneccssary.

A good description of the differences can be found here:

http://www.film.queensu.ca/CJ3B/Alternator.html

HTH.