Alternator poll

Ok, looking for some advice. My Lucas Altenator just died. I replaced it once already and have only had it for a year. I don't have any "extra's" at this point, but may in the future. What would be your vote.

1. replace with another lucas
2. Do Ford Fiesta Bosch Conversion
3. Do Saturn conversion (seems like much more work)

I'm leaning toward option #2, but neither Autozone or Schucks have them in stock. Does Napa or Carquest carry these? No Advanced Auto out here in the Olympia,WA area.

I'm a purist so I vote Lucas. How long did the original last? I always heard they were decent units. But I don't know much about the later cars.

Lucas for me.

Replaced mine with another Lucas
cheers Ric

#2. One of the best mods I did on my B, hands down.

You can do # 2 or # 3 or spend the money for a well rebuilt Lucas (this is where most of us get into trouble ~ we look at the price and freak out), but a decent rebuilt or new will, as Steve says, last a quite a long time. You pays your money and takes your pick. I am on year 7 of my Bosch Conversion, but if you go to my site on this conversion ( <http://www.cibolas7.net/17901.html> ) you will note that since I originally installed mine, I have had some second thoughts. It is still a very good choice, but there are other considerations which may be more important to you.

I would go with #2 and get a lifetime warranty from Kragen. Kragen goes by other names in different parts of the country.

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductList.aspx?PartType=11&PTSet=A&SearchFor=Alternator

I went for the saturn. Go to a auto electric shop that sells and services alts. They will probably have one on the shelf. Have THEM rotate the front and change to a
v-belt pully . Also tell them you need a repacement plug. After that it should bolt right in . You may have to grind down the top front ear to get it to the same thickness as the lucas and have it line up right. Not a difficult job and lots of amps.

cheers Derek

Go to auto electric shop that sells and services alts. get the saturn alt and have THEM rotate the front and change to a V-belt pully.Tell them you need a replacement plug. Take it home and bolt it on .

I had to grind down the top front ear to get proper alignment. No big deal and lots of amps.

Cheers Derek

One more vote for lucas - just replaced mine with a rebuilt. If the rebuilt lasts half as long as the original, I'm laughing.

My lucas is ancient and still going. If it dies, I'll just replace with Lucas.

Before I knew about the Bosch I rigged up a Delco and made a bracket to move it an inch to the starboard side. No grinding of the case which dusts your core on a trade in.

A couple of years ago, I picked up a rebuilt Lucas alternator from a local auto parts store. The rebuild was from Beck Arnally and has a life time warrantee on it. I don't figure I'll ever have to pay for another alternator as long as I own the car. I did the same thing with a battery for our TD back in the 70s - I picked up one of the Pennys life time warranteed batteries. Now Firestone handles the replacement since Pennys got out of the auto business and I have not had to pay for any of the 5 or 6 replacements over the years.
Cheer,

Like Dan I used the Delco, 35 dollars with lifetime warranty from Advanced.

Paul

The last two I have installed were AC Delco and made the bracket, and the Ford Fiesta Bosch. Both great choices. I bought a car with the Lucas and went with the Bosch on the latest rebuit engine. A great choice. Lights burn brighter, charges at idle. Same with the Delco. More power for extra electrical additions to car.

#2 - bolted right in.

I did the Saturn convert back in 2004 and still satisfied

I did the Bosch conversion too although I think the high output Lucas is probably as good if not better.

Most auto parts places can get the Bosch unit - if they do not have it in stock, they will have it next day. Around here, Murray's can get them the same day!

I tried the Saturn (Delco). I don't have an alternator shop around here, so have to try #2, I guess. If I can EVER find a Bosch. None of the auto parts stores around here list Bosch in the alternators.

I vote for #3. Did the Saturn about 3 months ago and have never looked back.

If my lucas ever goes I will just replace it with another one. Mine is 26 years old and still going strong.

Lucas....Replaced my 26 year old original lucas and that was because a battery cable came loose while I was driving and it blew the diodes otherwise the old lucas would prbably be fine today....If you are running original electronics and not 650 watt stereo systems, lucas should be fine

Ed, many of the chains do have the Bosch conversion but you have to ask for it as you own a 78 Ford Fiesta. There are alts for that car, the autolite and the bosch. Bob M's site has the exact details bit I wanted robust electrical system for the GT as it is a daily work vehicle and I wanted it to power lights and communication gear etc. the lifetime warranty was a big plus. Autozone had to order it but it was only three days.

Mine is a larger capacity Lucas. WHen I need another one I'll go the Fiesta route.

Carl - I had the same experience at AdvanceAuto - they didn't list a Bosch alternator, but when they looked under the Fiesta, they found it. I think it was the same story at Murray's but I'm not sure. Advance were also able to find it using the Bosch part number.

I have had many MGB's over the last 35 years and suffered countless dead LUCAS alternators. I replace them with late 70's camaro v8 alternators. I simply use a bolt and add a tensioner from an XJ6 (could make one from a piece of all-thread and a couple of pieces of seel... It'a rather cheap not rather permanent.

Go to Advanced Auto parts website and order the Bosch Fiesta alt. Make sure it's the one with the internal voltage regulator. Free shipping on anything over $50. Mine came in 4 days.

all add, one cool thing about the Bosch v. the lucas, is that it kicks in aroud 400 RPM, so you don't have the flickering ignition light at idle.

Lucas for me. I replaced the bad unit with a remanned from Advance and rebuilt the other for a spare.

When I got my '78, it had an alternator from some GM car in it. The conversion was a very bad job, the pully didn't line up, the water pump ear was cracked from stress, the wiring was pathetic. I bought a used Lucas on ebay for $10 and it worked great for a couple of years. A brush connecting wire broke, so I replaced the brush and it's working fine again. As long as I can get parts for it, I'll keep the Lucas alternator.

I did the Saturn conversion in about 20 min. Including the hardest part... Changing the electrical connector. Works GREAT for about $40 and it was off the shelf replacement.

No brackets to make.
One time wire change.
Off the shelf replacement (from anywhere)

Done deal!
Saturn conversion for me.

I went with Lucas with both cars. Got them at Shucks, they came in Autolite boxes. The big guy at the store switched the pulleys for me. Plenty of power for my needs.
DW

The results so far. These represent what people are actually running. Interestingly a couple aftermarket users expressed feelings that the Lucas may have been the better way to go. One Lucas user plans to go aftermarket next time.

12 Lucas
7 Bosch
5 Saturn
2 Delco
1 Camaro

I like to keep things as original as possible...so I vote for Lucas. Mine died about a week ago after 125,000 miles. Had it rebuilt for $100. It looks like a brand new part and works perfectly fine.

All I've got is a stereo. I would like to have the signals flash when the headlights and stereo are on. Will I have any problems achieving this goal with the stock Lucas? I was leaning toward the alternatives, but now it seems it may not be necessary.

Lonnie

David,
If they were Lucas alternators, why did the pulley need swapping out?

Lonnie

They came without the pulley so I had to reuse the old ones.
DW

Bosch Fiesta X2 for me. I'll never have another Lucas if I can find a Bosch-that's how much improvement there was. It made a world of difference on cold and rainy nighte when I was stuck in traffic. My Lucas would allow the lights to dim and windshield wipers to slow at idle. With the Bosch, there was no chang in lights or wiper speed with the engine running at 700 rpm idle. Fot the Lusac to match that the RPM had to be 1500. I had the same results of two different cars. BTW, back in the early 70's I had so much trouble with Lucas alts on my 72BGT that I had a local alt shop convert to something Japaneese. Went through three Lucas units before the conversion. After he converted , I never had another problem for the next two years. Before a Lucas would last two-three weeks at best. Have no idea what the problem was nor did I care back then, I just wanted to drive!

I hear people sometimes complain about lights dimming a bit when the car comes to a stop. Why would it even matter? If they dimmed a lot I could see the problem but it's just a little, and you aren't even moving!

Seems to be more votes for Lucas than I would have anticipated. Guess I'll have to see what I can find, compare prices, and decide which would be best. I'll let you know what I end up doing, and how it all went!

Thanks everyone for your responses!

I have had local gen/starter place here locally rebuild my Lucas. They've never failed however even after cleaning grounds/connections when slowing for turns the blinkers will slow to a stop if the rpm's drop too much.

I vote for #2. Got my Bosch from Carquest. They actually had one in stock.

I did the Bosch, more amps, lifetime warrenty, never considered the Lucas.

Well, I went with a rebuilt Lucas. Local shop had one in stock. It's bigger than the one that died. I'll give it another shot. If this one dies within a year or so, I'll go another route. Price was higher, but had it in stock. Need to occasionally support the little local guy! Had to change out the pulley as the new one didn't come with one, but was not a problem.

Thanks for all the responses.

It is good to see some of the newer GM Delco conversions with much improved mounting brackets than some in the past. Price, familiarity, and the availability of the GM Delco SI alternators has been a strong incentive for folks to use them. But not everyone has been able to fabricate a decent mounting system and this has led to some unfortunate accidents and broken water pump brackets.

The curse has been the torque transmitted to any alternator from the crankshaft. The forces present sometimes overwhelm mild steel brackets made from scrap stuff that is sometimes used and that has been the biggest reason I have cautioned against the GM SI alternators, NOT their practicality or servicability. Any make alternator can do the job, but engineering a mounting is really the most critical mechanical aspect of any conversion project ~ as I am sure the guys above whose well-made mountings know and understand well.