Mark's 95Amp Alternator -- BRAVO!!

Gotta love that wiring . . .
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focodave
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Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000 F.I.
Location: Fort Collins, CO

Mark's 95Amp Alternator -- BRAVO!!

Post by focodave »

Well I just installed one of Mark's 95Amp alternators and I have to say that this is the best $200 investment I've made in my car, to date.
I have owned the car for about 3 months and have been driven crazy by my battery not holding a charge for any more than a few hours and my alternator charging intermittently.
I've been through the entire wiring system cleaning grounds, adding grounds, rebuilding my ignition switch, restoring my circuit boards in the tail-light assemblies, testing relays, etc, etc.
Yes I have a very good (Fluke) multi-meter and I know how to use it.
Yes, I have a degree in Electronics Engineering.
I suspected that the alternator had a heat-related intermittent connection in it -- perhaps a winding opening up when hot--- because it would charge my battery at about 13.5 volts intermittently and usually when cold.
This alternator was a rebuilt one from O'Rielly Auto Parts. It had a lifetime warranty so I took it back and they refunded my money after they hooked it up on their tester for a few minutes and told me there was nothing wrong with it.
I promptly ordered Mark's 95Amp unit and OMG!
Lights are suddenly brighter, charge voltage holds steady with everything turned on - at 14.5 volts minimum, wipers are faster, everything just works much better and the car "feels" happier now.
I HIGHLY recommend this upgrade!

I also installed Mark's fiberglass replacement center console and upper console units. They turned out great, with some creative Dremel tool work. Once I had everything fitted properly with copious Dremel tool activity -- I was very pleased with the results. My old consoles were beige, had some cracks, missing covering near the radio opening, and just didn't look perfect the way I wanted them to. I painted the new units black, along with my armrests.

Pictures follow:
Image

Image

Image
1980 Spider 2000 F.I. (my hobby)
1970 MGB GT (my other hobby)
2008 Ford Expedition (daily driver)
2019 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Standard
2019 Harley-Davidson Iron 883 Sportster
So Cal Mark

Re: Mark's 95Amp Alternator -- BRAVO!!

Post by So Cal Mark »

nice work, now just add the short shifter and you've got it nailed!
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maytag
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Your car is a: 1976 124 spider
Location: Rocky Mountains....UTAH! (Not Colorado)

Re: Mark's 95Amp Alternator -- BRAVO!!

Post by maytag »

Mark:
how many wires on the hookup? IS the voltage regulator internal? So I could just run the wire to the battery and call 'er good? I'm thinking about this as a solution around the voltage regulator I've got that I don't want... :wink:
I'm no Boy-Racer..... but if I can't take every on-ramp at TWICE the posted limit.... I'm a total failure!
Fiat88

Re: Mark's 95Amp Alternator -- BRAVO!!

Post by Fiat88 »

Interior looks great and so does the alt upgrade. 8)
So Cal Mark

Re: Mark's 95Amp Alternator -- BRAVO!!

Post by So Cal Mark »

the alternator uses the wires from the battery and one wire from the warning light to trigger it
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4uall
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Your car is a: 1980 Fiat Pininfarina Spider 2000 F.I.
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Re: Mark's 95Amp Alternator -- BRAVO!!

Post by 4uall »

that ribbon coming off the bolt, I assume is a ground? Was that added or did it come with?
Jay

Fiona
1980 FI 2000 Spider
ITZEBTZE

https://goo.gl/photos/eNKaX7hrXhBu9fmp6

FINN (FN-2187)
2014 Jeep Wrangler Sport
MYTHERPY
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maytag
Posts: 1789
Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2009 9:22 pm
Your car is a: 1976 124 spider
Location: Rocky Mountains....UTAH! (Not Colorado)

Re: Mark's 95Amp Alternator -- BRAVO!!

Post by maytag »

So Cal Mark wrote:the alternator uses the wires from the battery and one wire from the warning light to trigger it
Internal regulator?
I'm no Boy-Racer..... but if I can't take every on-ramp at TWICE the posted limit.... I'm a total failure!
So Cal Mark

Re: Mark's 95Amp Alternator -- BRAVO!!

Post by So Cal Mark »

yes, internal regulator
the ground strap was added by the owner and is not part of the alt upgrade
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4uall
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Your car is a: 1980 Fiat Pininfarina Spider 2000 F.I.
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Re: Mark's 95Amp Alternator -- BRAVO!!

Post by 4uall »

is the ground strap required? :shock:
Jay

Fiona
1980 FI 2000 Spider
ITZEBTZE

https://goo.gl/photos/eNKaX7hrXhBu9fmp6

FINN (FN-2187)
2014 Jeep Wrangler Sport
MYTHERPY
TX82FIAT
Posts: 1814
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Your car is a: 82 Fiat Spider 2000 CSO
Location: San Antonio

Re: Mark's 95Amp Alternator -- BRAVO!!

Post by TX82FIAT »

No, ground strap is not required. Nice touch, but not required.
Buon giro a tutti! - enjoy the ride!

82 Fiat Spider 2000
03 BMW M3
07 Chevy Suburban
surfingfreeman
Posts: 388
Joined: Sat Jan 16, 2010 10:34 pm
Your car is a: 1982 2000 FI
Location: Burlingame, California

Re: Mark's 95Amp Alternator -- BRAVO!!

Post by surfingfreeman »

Yeah I second the alternator improvement, I have some powerful halogens and a couple of stereo amplifiers (one of which is a tube amp) and they are both real power hogs, adding marks alt. helps keep all systems happy and well fed.
Mike
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focodave
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Re: Mark's 95Amp Alternator -- BRAVO!!

Post by focodave »

Hi guys,
Yes, the ground strap is something I added just for good measure. It's not required and it's not part of Mark's alternator.
Note, also, that I replaced my cloudy clock with a voltmeter made by Equus.
I got the gauge at O'Rielly's for 17 bucks and it fits perfectly in the existing hole for the clock.
Now I can truly admire Mark's alternator in action from my cockpit!
Dave
1980 Spider 2000 F.I. (my hobby)
1970 MGB GT (my other hobby)
2008 Ford Expedition (daily driver)
2019 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Standard
2019 Harley-Davidson Iron 883 Sportster
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