El Cheapo Alternator Upgrade for 22RE
 

terryp500@yahoo.com is the man to talk to regarding this upgrade which can be viewed at http://home.earthlink.net/~twopapa/bigalt.htm#85up. Was looking to put more hp into my alternator by rewinding, converting to GM, etc (northern Canadian winters brrrr) when I came accross this mod which takes a 1994 Honda Del Sol Denso 90 amp and changes out the rectifier to Toyota. The unit is physically somewhat bigger than my original 60 amp, it fits- although I had to dremel out and press/epoxy a steel nut as the adjustment stanchion does not have threads like the old unit. Haven't fired this baby up yet as I am finishing up a head upgrade and timing chain but instead took the opportunity to change the unit while evrything was out. Another thing in make sure the new unit comes with a v-belt pulley as the original pulley will not fit the shaft is a larger diameter on the new unit. Another comment would be that there was minor shipping damage that was deemed by both Terry and I that it wasn't worth the shipping costs to rectify- he doubled the warranty instead. this is almost a direct fit.

intersting...

I'll be looking into that route if my 130amp aftermarket alt take a crap... again...


thanks!

Yeah, I was choking on some of those prices, this being a factory Denso variant it should prove very reliable. I'm sure there is way more powerful conversions out there like some of the GM varieties but this was simple.

Interesting...

hermm, so harness plugs in and everything? got any pics of the modification you speak of?

When I was reading the linked article, it seems Toyota used about 4 different plugs throught the years- but the rebuilder new exactly which plug was in the 4runner. I did not do the conversion myself- Steve did (partsbookie on Ebay) I won the auction on a reman Honda/Denso and he did the conversion at no extra cost, I insisted that cost was no issue for oem bearings and brushes but he said his components were as good and he would use a used oem Denso rectifier vs a new one from ???Taiwan. Fit was very good with no issues with PS pump or rad hose, just waiting for a lower rad hose to finish up.
Should be able to see pics on te first post.

has anyone looked into another toyota platform for an alternator solution? I have an 89 pathfinder that came with a 60 amp and I was able to install an alternator from a maxima of the same year which was a 90 amp...both cars have the same engine, the maxima's being sideways front wheel drive. I swapped the pulleys and ground the spacer a tiny bit and it was a perfect plug in, bolt on upgrade...maybe a camery alternator would fit in a similar way?

never looked into it but im sure somebody would have by now, instead of rewinding theirs, but its allways worth a try, and i re-read the post and i now understand what you had to do, lol i just read it to fast and was like whaaa?? epoxy a steel nut???

Ya the nut is a little hokey- but you have to accept the bad to get the good or tap the whole thing and I wasn't sure the adjustment slot would accept a bolt that diameter- not to mention I don't have a tap set. Too bad Toyota had to bury the alt so deep- I'm thinking the PS pump should have gone there as it has a remote res anyway- too hard to get at to play around with- I'm all about reliability here. As far as interchangeablility goes- I did my research and am happy that there is no direct fit out there- why else could the aftermarket charge so much for HO alt if people thought they could get away with a direct fit 90amp....To be honest I'm a GM/Chevy guy and at least for the older stuff there is good interchange. Just a note- Terry may be the guy to ask about that interchange business- BUT a comment was made that he has been doing this for 20 years and was both surprised and impressed with the article.

Some of the newer Lexus models run 130+ amp alternators. Just sayin.....

got any of those at Nix99??


:D

Maaayyyybe....

They cost 'bout Tree Fiddy

Just sayin' what? The lexus alt will bolt/plug in? Wish I found that out beforehand, not even a whisper on the different forums....

Plug in? Yes. Bolt up? No, not likely. The higher output alternators have larger cases as well. I though think it would be fairly easy to figure out how to mount it though.

Well my location is a little different- for example I've been waiting for over a week for a simple lower rad hose...bs. So I have to keep it simple for maintenance and availability with a limit on custom parts- the old alt will fit no problem, this is my only vehicle in this location, I should actually get another HO alt as a spare. The 90amp also was bigger- I wonder how many case sizes Denso used- if it is the same size as the Lexus- perhaps the guts will interchange with a case that requires little modification? Another question- my truck is pretty base- I thought 90a would be good enough- what situation calls for 130a? Big subs, winch, lights....I'm sorry you'll have to translate 'tree fiddy' as well....$??

Well in and running...

An update, pretty happy. At idle the rear glass and wipers aren't lazy anymore and the battery seems to be more robust.

90 supra and cressida are supposed to be bolt in.. 90 amps

I picked one up at autozone $124, but it comes with a flat belt.

I ended up going with a rebuilt 130 amp for $90 instead.

I started with a 1984 40 amp, so I have to use the newer brackets and wiring too.