Alternator upgrade?

[psmvchaser]

I am having some serious issues with my charging system and I want to upgrade my alternator.

I searched and found some info, but I want some opinions. I found a Powermaster 140 amp or Powermaster 200 amp.

Does anyone use either of these successfully? If not, what should I get?

 

[QUICK STORM]

Re: Alternator upgrade?

i have a powermaster 140, but have yet to install it. i did see one of the local owners today, live1053rulz, and he had a 140 as well. he explained to me that you have to take it apart and reclock it, though. he is pleased with the performance of it, but he said it does whine at idle.

 

[JSM]

Re: Alternator upgrade?

I think you can get one from a 95 caddy that is stock 140 amps. CS-144 is gm's designation. I think it bolts right in. I should know more later this week.

 

[Tooky]

Re: Alternator upgrade?

Watch out when you reclock the Powermaster, take it to someone with air tools to tighten that nut with an impact when you're done. I did mine the "jam the fins and crank it in a vise" method and I believe it was the cause of mine exploding a few weeks later and damaging my hood, radiator, shroud etc. when the fan came loose...

 

[jbone]

Re: Alternator upgrade?

tommy "tommyquest" has a late 90's gm truck alternator. I think its a 190amp?? not sure though. im planning on buying one soon I lost the part# though, he said other than drill out one of the holes on the bracket a lil wider it bolts right in and its cheaper than a power master.

 

[Syclone#892]

Re: Alternator upgrade?

Well try a search under my name for alts, I have talked about them a lot on this site and can even help save you a couple bucks usually. I don't know why everyone still loves that powermaster stuff, its overpriced and the quality is not there either. First they use a small bearing housing which if you have ever owned an early 90's gm with said style alt it may have locked up on you and stopped the engine dead in its tracks. The small bearing can not take the heat and seize up, if your lucky it just stalls engine. Unlucky cracks alt housing or even alt bracket.

Also everyone stilll seems that they need 200 amp this and that. Give you a tip the higher the amp the more it puts out when we don't necessarliy need it, we need idle amps and 140 is plenty and all you should ever need unless you have a huge stereo etc. You can make a 200 that puts out at idle but it takes money and its not needed.

Good Luck with what you find and end up buying but do a search here and see what you find.

Feel free to pm me for any questions, just moved and my email has not been resetup yet.

 

[QUICK STORM]

Re: Alternator upgrade?

Well try a search under my name for alts, I have talked about them a lot on this site and can even help save you a couple bucks usually. I don't know why everyone still loves that powermaster stuff, its overpriced and the quality is not there either. First they use a small bearing housing which if you have ever owned an early 90's gm with said style alt it may have locked up on you and stopped the engine dead in its tracks. The small bearing can not take the heat and seize up, if your lucky it just stalls engine. Unlucky cracks alt housing or even alt bracket.

Also everyone stilll seems that they need 200 amp this and that. Give you a tip the higher the amp the more it puts out when we don't necessarliy need it, we need idle amps and 140 is plenty and all you should ever need unless you have a huge stereo etc. You can make a 200 that puts out at idle but it takes money and its not needed.

Good Luck with what you find and end up buying but do a search here and see what you find.

Feel free to pm me for any questions, just moved and my email has not been resetup yet.

tried a search myself, none found.

 

[cvcsmkr]

Re: Alternator upgrade?

I have a black powermaster 140 and it bolted right in...??
havent had any problems, hell it cut the upper radiator hose, got soaked in antifreeze and still works, knock on wood.

 

[JKsSyclone]

Re: Alternator upgrade?

I think you can get one from a 95 caddy that is stock 140 amps. CS-144 is gm's designation. I think it bolts right in. I should know more later this week.

Any more info yet?

 

[JSM]

Re: Alternator upgrade?

Any more info yet?

No daron's sy is still kicking my ass, and that alt. isn't on daron's sy list of crud to get done.

 

[HotRodV6]

Re: Alternator upgrade?

Well i recently bought a brand new 140 amp stock style alt off ebay and it looks completely stock and i got it for 69 bucks, heres a link to the auction, and when i called to pay him over the phone he said that the listing was a mistake on the price, but he honered it, so for 84 bucks shipped it works great, the reg price i think is 99 bucks, which is still a great deal for a completley brand new 140 amp unit that bolts right in.

http://cgi1.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemWithCategory&item=8070798690

I know a few local Ty's that run the powermaster abd have had some troouble with them going out prematurly and thats why i decided to give this place a shot and im glad i did.

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: Alternator upgrade?

I bought an alternator off them as well, I think I have a 180amp.

 

[JSM]

Re: Alternator upgrade?

This is the style I am going to try. CS-144

It is suppose to be 140 amp stock and upgradeable to 200 amps, puts out more amps at lower rpms also.

I want one for my tahoe first, if it works then might put one on ty also.

 

[Tooky]

Re: Alternator upgrade?

I really had a hell of a time with reclocking my Powermaster. All you guys whose Powermasters (and other brands) "Just dropped right in" -- did you install all three bolts, including the one in the rear? Or did you just use the 2 main ones and leave that one off?

Maybe that's the difference between us. I recently became aware that the rear one the "black metal bracket" attaches to, is not 100% necessary, or so I'm told.

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: Alternator upgrade?

The CS130 just bolted right in.

 

[TYRODD]

Re: Alternator upgrade?

I bought a 140 amp powermaster about 4 months ago, took about 2 months and 1000 miles to kill it :tdown: . I wont be buying another one . FWIW I did have to reclock mine...not hard with a impact wrench .

The caddy alt isnt a bad idea, prolly has better low RPM amps than the PM, and looks factory...prolly a delco that will last forever as well :tup:

 

[QUICK STORM]

Re: Alternator upgrade?

looks like i'll be selling my brand new never used powermaster.

 

[Flyin Ryan]

Re: Alternator upgrade?

Yeah i've heard in the past that powermaster blew but damn 2 months and only 1k miles is pretty limp

 

[chelo]

Re: Alternator upgrade?

my powermaster only lasted about 2 months also. Less than 1000 miles. I had a local guy upgrade a spare stocker to 140. $65. Powermaster sucks :tdown:

 

[mattw]

Re: Alternator upgrade?

The CS130 just bolted right in.

That CS130 looks like the same alternator that I used.. I found it in a junk yard in a caddy with tons of electrical shit(fans, compressors, air leveling, etc). Its physically larger than our alt and I had to modify my alternator support to make it work...

-Matt