I'll apologize now if this has been covered more times than not, but without a search feature, it is hard to search through the entire forums. My father and I own a '64 E-Type coupe. He recently ahd some major work done on it and now wants to un-do some of what was done. Specifically removing an A/C system and replacing the header tank and changing over to an alternator.

Where can we find the required brackets needed for the change over?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Charlie

Submitted by tvtom@sbcglobal.net on Thu, 03/18/2010 - 14:34

Trouble-shooting a wiring problem can be simplified through the use of as device loosely catagorized as a Toner. If you have an extra $100.00 lying about, Frys has one by Triplett Fox2 Hound3 stock #4908991.

You attach the tone generator (Fox) unit to the bare end of the wire of interest and then "sniff" along the harness with the Hound to locate the other end of the wire. With this model you may, repeat may, be able to use it on an energized circuit but I prefer not.

I helped a friend locate a mystery in a new wiring harness for an early E-Type Roadster using one of these units.

Submitted by SC38-21185J on Thu, 03/18/2010 - 09:14

Yes, that is a good point. Nothing worse than not being able to see your charging configuration in a proper manual for trouble-shooting, at which point, you have to consult an automotive electrician. And no one on these forums will be able to help either.

I was over at a friend's house this last weekend, and he has a very nice Mark 2. However, a previous owner did some wiring cutting and changes. Always a red flag when you see primary wire and crimp-on connectors on the coil! Something is screwy with the little solenoid on the carburetor as it's not engaging when the engine is first being started, making it hard to start (ie fuel supply). Somebody wired it to a switch, but we could not trace both wires back to that switch. Anyway, it got to be a bigger task than what we were there for, and just left it. We did however, leave him with a procedure to engage and disengage the solenoid for starting. Pain in the botokus!

So that's the same kind of thing you will be passing on to the next owner of the car (if you care). If you go through with it, draw up a wiring diagram for the next guy to follow. I'm restoring an old Ford flathead V8 car right now ( http://mcload.wordpress.com/ ), and I also thought about replacing the genny with an alternator, but my mentors on this project car are keeping me period correct. There is even an outfit, PowerMaster, who make alternators that are housed in generator bodies, and they are not cheap. Ultimately, I'll stick with the generator as this is primarily a rare car and will be shown as opposed to being driven a lot. But I digress from the topic.

So I agree with George from the standpoint of simply keeping the car serviceable; nothing wrong with a generator per se as they've been on cars since the invention of dirt. Wouldn't you also have to change that voltage control box relay thing and possibly the gauge? Seems the easy route would be to keep it original. Good luck.

Patrick

Submitted by SE98-32482CJ on Wed, 03/17/2010 - 19:17

I am not sure why you want to do this but you will also need to change either the pulley on the alt. or your crank pully--they are of different design----Please reconsider as a good generator and charging system are more than up to the task--all adding an alternator will do is cause problems later if you have a problem--you will be off the manuals and on your own so to speak.