Hey GTP/3800 guys

[spoonraker]

Who wants to help me install a new alternator on my Intrigue?

I've heard it's a piece of cake on this engine, but I'm a total engine noob, any help would be appreciated.

[GTPpower]

I'd help, but I'm not too close to Lincoln...

[91firebirdv6]

do it your self. seriously It should be like 4 bolts.

[dunnster76]

I would if my schedule allows.

[toom1h]

It'll be super easy, just let me know a time frame and I'll see if I got some time to help out.

[JesterMX6]

don't forget to tighten the ligature nut when you're done

[aquase]

when u wanna do this??? pm me

[Gentoo]

dammit paul i told you id help you do it ;)

lol

[roo]

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/4254/043800schi9.jpg

remove belt
unbolt
replace alternator

[Gentoo]

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/4254/043800schi9.jpg

remove belt
unbolt
replace alternator

technically, thats not it. 97-98 uses different mouting for the alternator. nonetheless, its teh easy.

[roo]

Google only seems to acknowledge that particular style when I search for gm 3800

[GTPpower]

ditto...there are 2 different styles......don't know why they changed it though.

[spoonraker]

I'll call either bartek or josh when I need to do it, probably this weekend

[toom1h]

Ah ha i c how it is

[spoonraker]

or DJ, or anybody else who posted lol, maybe we'll have a big alternator changing party?

10 people, 10 minutes of work, sounds about right.

[4 cam torino]

except it'll take 10 hours for reasons that no one will really know when it's done.

[aquase]

god dont remind me of that....lowering springs and jackstands on ice, and bolts that are hiding from you under ice

[Gentoo]

or DJ, or anybody else who posted lol, maybe we'll have a big alternator changing party?

10 people, 10 minutes of work, sounds about right.

like construction workers...1 person doing the work and 9 guys watching him lol

[GTPpower]

or DJ, or anybody else who posted lol, maybe we'll have a big alternator changing party?

10 people, 10 minutes of work, sounds about right.

like construction workers...1 person doing the work and 9 guys watching him lol


Hey now...:D

[91firebirdv6]

god dont remind me of that....lowering springs and jackstands on ice, and bolts that are hiding from you under ice

that was ridiculous

[dunnster76]

god dont remind me of that....lowering springs and jackstands on ice, and bolts that are hiding from you under ice

That sounds like something done at my house ... R0FL!

[spoonraker]

I ordered 20 feet of 1/0 AWG wire and ring terminals. I'm going to be beefing up the wiring under the hood to get the most out of the new alternator. Should be all ready to install this by the weekend after this one

[dunnster76]

Oh ... and this is more what the engine looks like ... what Roo posted was an almighty L67!

http://images.google.com/url?q=http://www.westernbrynmawr.com/images/2805TC.jpg&usg=AFQjCNGKqNs23APsvX-MKbfiyyWU21by6A

[spoonraker]

^ That's the one

[dunnster76]

Still easy ... disconnect negative battery terminal, take the serpentine belt off, 3 bolts on the left side, 1 on the right, unplug the alternator, replace, start putting things back how you found them ... done. Like I said, I just did the alternator on my 97 GT a couple weeks back.

[4 cam torino]

Uh oh, talking about adding work to the alternator change, I see where this is going. You better start tonight because it's going to end up taking until late Sunday night lol

[dunnster76]

Most likely ... Bartek can attest to how projects can take way longer than expected.

[JesterMX6]

I ordered 20 feet of 1/0 AWG wire and ring terminals. I'm going to be beefing up the wiring under the hood to get the most out of the new alternator. Should be all ready to install this by the weekend after this one

i was abuot to say "that's stupid. GM knows perfectly well how much and how thick the wiring needs to be in your family sedan."

then i remembered the amount of crap you have drawing juice from your battery lol

commence the beefing

[Gentoo]

I ordered 20 feet of 1/0 AWG wire and ring terminals. I'm going to be beefing up the wiring under the hood to get the most out of the new alternator. Should be all ready to install this by the weekend after this one

i was abuot to say "that's stupid. GM knows perfectly well how much and how thick the wiring needs to be in your family sedan."

then i remembered the amount of crap you have drawing juice from your battery lol

commence the beefing
no not rly

out of all the car manufactures, GM skimps the most on wiring. why do you think ZZP (grand prix guys will know what im talking about) sells an "alternator rewire kit" to boost alternator amperage (FYI that kit is a RIPOFF). i really dont think that a 10ga wire would be able to even hold the stock alternators amperage of 100+ amps. thats why ive heard 'talk' about cars switching to a 42v electrical system...just so they can use smaller wires (also saves weight).

[JesterMX6]

I ordered 20 feet of 1/0 AWG wire and ring terminals. I'm going to be beefing up the wiring under the hood to get the most out of the new alternator. Should be all ready to install this by the weekend after this one

i was abuot to say "that's stupid. GM knows perfectly well how much and how thick the wiring needs to be in your family sedan."

then i remembered the amount of crap you have drawing juice from your battery lol

commence the beefing
no not rly

out of all the car manufactures, GM skimps the most on wiring. why do you think ZZP (grand prix guys will know what im talking about) sells an "alternator rewire kit" to boost alternator amperage (FYI that kit is a RIPOFF). i really dont think that a 10ga wire would be able to even hold the stock alternators amperage of 100+ amps. thats why ive heard 'talk' about cars switching to a 42v electrical system...just so they can use smaller wires (also saves weight).

i meant for stock use. not aftermarket/performance

[turbodaytona87]

I know who ZZP is :D

[dunnster76]

Aren't you special! Want a cookie?

[spoonraker]

1200W amp, 800W amp, 300W computer, and stock electronics = definitely quite a bit more than 105 amps that my stock alt is rated at. Combine that with the fact that the shitty wiring wouldn't pass near 105 amps in it's wildest dreams and that means the 200 amp alt and 1/0 wiring will definitely make a big difference :)

[Gentoo]

I ordered 20 feet of 1/0 AWG wire and ring terminals. I'm going to be beefing up the wiring under the hood to get the most out of the new alternator. Should be all ready to install this by the weekend after this one

i was abuot to say "that's stupid. GM knows perfectly well how much and how thick the wiring needs to be in your family sedan."

then i remembered the amount of crap you have drawing juice from your battery lol

commence the beefing
no not rly

out of all the car manufactures, GM skimps the most on wiring. why do you think ZZP (grand prix guys will know what im talking about) sells an "alternator rewire kit" to boost alternator amperage (FYI that kit is a RIPOFF). i really dont think that a 10ga wire would be able to even hold the stock alternators amperage of 100+ amps. thats why ive heard 'talk' about cars switching to a 42v electrical system...just so they can use smaller wires (also saves weight).

i meant for stock use. not aftermarket/performance

stock alternator on a L36 (NA GM 3800) is 105a. 12 or even 10ga for that matter is HARDLY enough to hold that kind of current

[JesterMX6]

well if it wasn't enough i guess there'd be alot of recalls.

i've yet to see them.

[spoonraker]

I don't think reg is trying to say anything bad about the original design, he's just trying to say that the stock wiring won't even allow the full current potential of the existing alternator to get to the electrical system, so an alternator with twice the output would do nothing unless the wire size was also significantly increased

and if that's not what he's trying to say, it should be

[JesterMX6]

k well that i can agree with.

my point was stock form and stock needs. the factory wiring is enough. plain and simple.


and when i first saw the upgrade onthe list it took me a second to realize exactly who's car this was being done on lol

[spoonraker]

^ lol

At 100% efficiency under maximum load all the electronics I've added (not including stock electronics) would draw just about 200 Amperes. Add stock electrical into that and factor in real world efficiency and 200 amps is just about perfect. 1/0 wire is rated at 350 amps current carrying capacity. This will definitely help :)