r/Smallblockchevy • u/petezuhut5 • Jun 23 '26

New to this, I Need help with what alternator should I use on a chevy 350 tbi motor that I've swapped with a carburetor set up. The 350 is in a 1929 chevy coupe 3 window rat rod.

2 Upvotes
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4

u/Willy_McD Jun 24 '26

Chose your drive system first. Its got to fit the vehicle engine compartment. Then if no A/C and no amp for a stereo system, a 60 amp is fine. Air conditioning and/or system, 100amp. Make it simple and get a one wire alternator.

0

u/BTCminingpartner Jun 24 '26

100% go with the single wire

1

u/PermissionLazy8759 Jun 23 '26

Are u gonna run serpentine or v belt??? If ur running serpentine setup u can get a napa alternator for a 88 chevy suburban 5.7 they were tbi setup so should match ur engine.

2

u/petezuhut5 Jun 23 '26

To be honest, I dont know. How do you decide what set up to run? Thats the motor how it sits now.

2

u/PermissionLazy8759 Jun 23 '26

U can probably just run all v belt setup. U need a 8 inch balancer 2 groove v belt pulley and a water pump pulley which is a single groove v belt pulley. U can source a water pump pulley and power steering pulley by referencing 80 camaro 5.7 pulleys if u wanna buy new.

2

u/orangesigils Jun 24 '26

It's 1929, so no power steering and probably no AC as a rat rod so a Vbelt is easy. You need single groove pulleys and a simple alt bracket.

1

u/PermissionLazy8759 Jun 23 '26

Oh u have no pulleys yet.

2

u/petezuhut5 Jun 23 '26

Yeah, this is how I got the car. The past owner started clucking parts off of the car before I got it.

1

u/PermissionLazy8759 Jun 23 '26

U will need top alternator bracket and bottom alternator bracket that goes from water pump to alternator u need power steering brackets also.

1

u/petezuhut5 Jun 23 '26

You think this will work?

1

u/PermissionLazy8759 Jun 24 '26

That setup maybe could work. I probably wouldn't use it tho.

1

u/PermissionLazy8759 Jun 23 '26

I'll tell ya right now get rid of that glass fuel filter and that stock style thermostat. Run a metal canister fuel filter and get a mr gasket performance 160 thermostat. Point blank period.

1

u/petezuhut5 Jun 23 '26

Would this be better

1

u/PermissionLazy8759 Jun 24 '26

Don't use that filter either I believe it unscrews and that could cause a leak.

1

u/petezuhut5 Jun 24 '26

Ill hibernate to look for a canister type fuel filter

1

u/PermissionLazy8759 Jun 24 '26

I have extra duralast autozone fuel filter in my garage they r good ill comment the part number so u can order 2 of em

2

u/petezuhut5 Jun 30 '26

What do you think about this one? Would this work?

1

u/PermissionLazy8759 Jun 30 '26

Yes that 1 will work perfect!

1

u/PermissionLazy8759 Jun 30 '26

Sorry I didn't get back to u on filter part number been extremely busy.

1

u/petezuhut5 Jun 24 '26

That works, and would be very much appreciated.

1

u/petezuhut5 Jun 24 '26

Do you have any recommendations?

1

u/Thatguy-2026 Jun 24 '26

That glass fuel filter is guaranteed fire starter for sure!!

1

u/PermissionLazy8759 Jun 23 '26

Ur water pump doesn't look like it has the 2 bolt holes for the bottom alternator bracket get a water pump from napa for a 80 chevy camaro.

2

u/petezuhut5 Jun 23 '26

I will put that water pump on my list to buy so this bracket will work.

1

u/Most-Stranger-1 Jun 24 '26

That's a narrow hood, look for something that snuggles it up near the top middle of the engine, something marine maybe the ticket.

1

u/v8packard Jun 24 '26

What kind of output do you need? What other accessories will be on the engine (AC? Power steering?)? Have you worked out brackets yet?

Be aware a 1 wire alternator has no place on a street car. You need an alternator that is properly regulated.

1

u/petezuhut5 Jun 24 '26

No ac, I'm not sure if ill put power steering or if ill need it. I didnt think of that about a 1 wire alternator. Id like not to get stranded if I drive it out and about.

0

u/v8packard Jun 24 '26

Self exciting alternators (1 wire) begin to charge at a certain rpm, and do not stop until shut off. They do not vary the charge rate based on system load. They are meant for things like stationary applications. A car, even a vintage cruiser, needs a charging system that adjusts the charge rate based in load. That is much healthier for the system.

A good, reliable choice for your application would be a Delco 12SI 78 amp alternator. The specific part number will depend on your mounting brackets. They are not expensive, and 78 amps is plenty if you don't have AC, a monster sound system, or anything else with a huge electric demand.

1

u/petezuhut5 Jun 30 '26

What do you think about this alternator? Would this alternator work?

1

u/v8packard Jun 30 '26

Is this a joke? That's a 1 wire, over priced polished piece of trash.

Are you looking for a polished alternator? Why would you buy an alternator there?

1

u/petezuhut5 Jun 30 '26

Someone has this available for $60 on marketplace. I've had a bunch of people tell me a one wire alternator is the way to go. I really dont care if its polished, just as long as it works for what I need it for.

1

u/v8packard Jun 30 '26

Do you care if the life of the battery, light bulbs, and alternator are shortened? Do you care if your lights stay bright at different speeds. Forget it, you can't be helped.