Are Bosch alternators any good?

[justafifteen 10+ year member]

I'm looking for a HO alternator for my 91 Dodge Spirit, but can't find any companies that list that old of a car in their catalog. I did a google search and this came up from JC Whitney

http://www.jcwhitney.com/bosch-alternators/p2018615.jcwx?skuId=487781&TID=froogle&91DoSpBos430082

What say you?

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[sexy 10+ year member]

I'm looking for a HO alternator for my 91 Dodge Spirit, but can't find any companies that list that old of a car in their catalog. I did a google search and this came up from JC Whitney
http://www.jcwhitney.com/bosch-alternators/p2018615.jcwx?skuId=487781&TID=froogle&91DoSpBos430082

What say you?

Not knowing what your budget is or what your goals are but here is what I can say. That’s just not much of an alternator. Companies that build good high output alternators don’t list every car ever made because almost any alternator will work with the right brackets. The company that I see a lot of competitors using is Ohio generator. I like the 140 amp alternators that I get from Cadillac escalades. They fit on many different cars and trucks like my ford truck and I get them for $25 bucks at the local junkyard. I have to make a bracket sometimes but that’s no big deal when it saves me 2 or 3 hundred dollars.

 

[justafifteen 10+ year member]

Well I'm looking for a beefier alternator so that I can put my sub in my car (it only has a 60 or 75-amp). I'm not looking to break the bank. Mechman emailed me back and said for their 140-amp, it's $500 (or something **** near there). I'm looking more for like $150

 

[slim2fattycake 10+ year member]

If that's your price, ask bosch for output at your real idle rpm and where it actually does 200 amps.

But you have only 1500 watts, why do you think you need a high output alt? Do you not have a 2nd battery?

 

[justafifteen 10+ year member]

Actually it's only 870w + 50w speaker amp so I'm only pushing 920w at the max, but still, this car has a little puny alternator. Even in my Expedition the headlights would dim, but no I hadn't done the Big 3.

And to answer your question, no I don't have a second battery and never have.

But I figured I need a high-output alt because if my math is correct:

870 / 12.8 = 68 amps

I don't want to be running my little alternator into the ground

 

[slim2fattycake 10+ year member]

upgrade your wires. i can't see how 900 watts, gain set correctly, would dim your lights on an expedition with stock alt.

 

[justafifteen 10+ year member]

Yeah I wanted to do the Big 3 but never got around to it. I'm definitely going to with my little car, though.

But still, do you think a 60 or 75 amp alternator is good enough for 900 watts?

 

[slim2fattycake 10+ year member]

mine was fine with 1500 watts and 2nd battery. My stock was like a 105 amp max which would probably only get there on the coldest day of the year lol.

 

[justafifteen 10+ year member]

Any other opinions?