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:
Mark's 95Amp Alternator -- BRAVO!!
- focodave
- Patron 2018
- Posts: 704
- Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2012 10:35 am
- Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000 F.I.
- Location: Fort Collins, CO
Mark's 95Amp Alternator -- BRAVO!!
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
1970 MGB GT (my other hobby)
2008 Ford Expedition (daily driver)
2019 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Standard
2019 Harley-Davidson Iron 883 Sportster
Re: Mark's 95Amp Alternator -- BRAVO!!
nice work, now just add the short shifter and you've got it nailed!
- 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!!
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...
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...
I'm no Boy-Racer..... but if I can't take every on-ramp at TWICE the posted limit.... I'm a total failure!
Re: Mark's 95Amp Alternator -- BRAVO!!
the alternator uses the wires from the battery and one wire from the warning light to trigger it
- 4uall
- Posts: 4145
- Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2011 12:09 pm
- Your car is a: 1980 Fiat Pininfarina Spider 2000 F.I.
- Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Re: Mark's 95Amp Alternator -- BRAVO!!
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
Fiona
1980 FI 2000 Spider
ITZEBTZE
https://goo.gl/photos/eNKaX7hrXhBu9fmp6
FINN (FN-2187)
2014 Jeep Wrangler Sport
MYTHERPY
- 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!!
Internal regulator?So Cal Mark wrote:the alternator uses the wires from the battery and one wire from the warning light to trigger it
I'm no Boy-Racer..... but if I can't take every on-ramp at TWICE the posted limit.... I'm a total failure!
Re: Mark's 95Amp Alternator -- BRAVO!!
yes, internal regulator
the ground strap was added by the owner and is not part of the alt upgrade
the ground strap was added by the owner and is not part of the alt upgrade
- 4uall
- Posts: 4145
- Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2011 12:09 pm
- Your car is a: 1980 Fiat Pininfarina Spider 2000 F.I.
- Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Re: Mark's 95Amp Alternator -- BRAVO!!
is the ground strap required?
Jay
Fiona
1980 FI 2000 Spider
ITZEBTZE
https://goo.gl/photos/eNKaX7hrXhBu9fmp6
FINN (FN-2187)
2014 Jeep Wrangler Sport
MYTHERPY
Fiona
1980 FI 2000 Spider
ITZEBTZE
https://goo.gl/photos/eNKaX7hrXhBu9fmp6
FINN (FN-2187)
2014 Jeep Wrangler Sport
MYTHERPY
-
- Posts: 1814
- Joined: Mon May 03, 2010 11:04 am
- Your car is a: 82 Fiat Spider 2000 CSO
- Location: San Antonio
Re: Mark's 95Amp Alternator -- BRAVO!!
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
82 Fiat Spider 2000
03 BMW M3
07 Chevy Suburban
-
- 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!!
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
Mike
- focodave
- Patron 2018
- Posts: 704
- Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2012 10:35 am
- Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000 F.I.
- Location: Fort Collins, CO
Re: Mark's 95Amp Alternator -- BRAVO!!
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
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
1970 MGB GT (my other hobby)
2008 Ford Expedition (daily driver)
2019 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Standard
2019 Harley-Davidson Iron 883 Sportster