The following was submitted by Dave Nulton (dnult)
An accurate and informative article on converting to an internal regulated alternator.
http://home.comcast.net/~Jimragtop/What_it_is/charging/NewFirstGenCharging.htm

Excellent! (I'm bowing with my hat off)

What Everett said.

Thanks Jim for posting and thanks everyone for the compliments. I hope I haven't overdone the technical jargon and that noobs find it useful. Take care everyone.

This I think is a little simpler but haven't tried it yet. Buddy did his Nova and all is fine. http://www.camaros.net/techref/ftecref14.html

This I think is a little simpler but haven't tried it yet. Buddy did his Nova and all is fine. http://www.camaros.net/techref/ftecref14.html
The techref link is referenced in the document. The only significant difference is the lack of remote sensing and improved load capacity for fans, headlamps, etc. There's a gotcha in there for factory ammeter users though. I used Wes' article to do the mechanical part of the upgrade. Just ran accross my GM sales tickets with the part numbers. I seem to recall the upper bracket was a bit of a chore to find.

Great write up Dave.

Now a question for you or anyone else.
I did this conversion last year on my '69, but didn't use a REAR support as mentioned in Wes's write up. Are my bearings in trouble if I don't make one?

thanks doug worked out fine and took 10 min

What were the first GM Delco alernators used in the 70's and 80's called? Wouldn't this conversion be similiar to the CS130 conversion electrically? I'm asking because I have a '69 Z/28 that I would like to convert over to an internal requlator system, but I don't have the heart to start cutting and welding on the original alteranator brackets? Can someone help me out with an internal regulator conversion that doesn't involve mechanical bracket modification or point me to a thread that has this information? Thanks.

Doug

The original Delco alternator was the 10si, this is the external regulated model we are all familiar with.

In the 70's, it was replaced by the 12si, the first internally regulated GM alternator.

And yes, in most cases, a 12si is a dropin, with some minor wiring changes.
You can buy the correct pigtail connector for the alternator in most auto parts stores, then you just unplug the reg, and jumper the wire connectors, 1 to 4 and 2 to 3. Your gen light will even work.

Just a few corrections...

The original Delco alternator was the 10si, this is the external regulated model we are all familiar with.
The externally regulated models were the GM 10DN. This model was used from early 60's to 72. The 10si is internally regulated, was used from about 73 to the early 80's. ( a few car had them before 72 as GM was phasing in internal regulation)
In the 70's, it was replaced by the 12si, the first internally regulated GM alternator.
The first internally regulated ones were the 10si. The 12si came out in in the early 80's.
And yes, in most cases, a 12si is a dropin, with some minor wiring changes.
You can buy the correct pigtail connector for the alternator in most auto parts stores, then you just unplug the reg, and jumper the wire connectors, 1 to 4 and 2 to 3. Your gen light will even work.
This is correct. 10si and 12si is a drop in. Later 12si use metric threads instead of SAE, but the hole spacing is the same. For wiring, a pic is worth a thousand words

GM 10DN (externally regulated) to a 10si or 12si (internally regulated)

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/alternator_wiring_pic2.JPG

I'm asking because I have a '69 Z/28 that I would like to convert over to an internal regulator system, but I don't have the heart to start cutting and welding on the original alternator brackets? Can someone help me out with an internal regulator conversion that doesn't involve mechanical bracket modification or point me to a thread that has this information? Thanks.Convert to a 10si, no cutting and welding needed. It looks almost the same as the GM 10DN. The 12si has a different cooling fan. For the backbrace to bolt up, the alternator has to have the proper "clock" position. Go here for more info on 10 and 12si and clock positions.
http://www.madelectrical.com/electricaltech/delcoremy.shtml
For wiring, if you don't want to cut the original wires you can buy conversion kits which make converting to a internally regulated alternator a "plug and play" deal. I recommend this if you are electrically challenged.
http://www.americanautowire.com/images/imagelib/Alternators.pdf

I did mine yrs ago
on the back opf the Alternator
Big red one goes to the nut connection
White wire to one of the baynets
Blue wire is isolated
Thne other baynet fitting on the alternator also commects to the main re wire /nut connection.
Gauges, dash lights etc work fine.

Thanks.

Doug