my alternator on my 86 pickup is dying the slip rings are wore 3/4 of the way through. what other alternator would fit? should i upgrade to a higher amp alternator. everything is stock except the radio it is out of a 2000 buick ultra. and the former owner took the a/c out and i would like to put it back in. can i replace the armature or slip rings?

 

There is a one wire Chevy alternator that some use. I have never used it. I have seen on ebay where you can buy an alternator that puts out more then the factory alternator which has been upgraded. Other then just replacing the brushes in an alternator, I feel you need to have a professional to do it. You can buy from the part stores but I have had them to fail out of the box. Find a place that rebuilds starters and alternators and most should be able to make you an alternator that puts out more then stock. As your truck is set up, even with ac, a factory sized alternator would work for you.

 

Slip rings are available for $3-$7. I keep some spares in my toolbox along with spare brushes and other parts. Here are some, you need to confirm the dimensions and part numbers on your alternator to verify that they fit.

http://aspwholesale.com/slip-ring-nd-p915.html

 

The FSM says to replace the rotor if the slip rings are below spec. I'm sure rustypigeon can handle replacing just the slip rings, but you might want to compare that effort to the cost of a replacement. RockAuto has several NEW alternators for less than $100, and a reman for less than $60. 60amps was plenty for that truck for the last 30 years; I'm sure you'll be fine with stock output.