help with new singer alternator install

[blowthemup 10+ year member]

Well trying to install my singer alternator, and I noticed the pulley is smaller on the new singer alternator. Do I need to get a smaller belt?

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[NASTY08IMPALA 5,000+ posts]

Well trying to install my singer alternator, and I noticed the pulley is smaller on the new singer alternator. Do I need to get a smaller belt?

Yes 1/2" to a inch in some cases or you will have slip and squeak

 

[blowthemup 10+ year member]

Yes 1/2" to a inch in some cases or you will have slip and squeak

Is there a way to measure how much smaller? I used some tape to measure the circufrance and its about 2" difference .

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

It depends on your tensioner. If it's spring loaded it may make up for the difference in the size, mine did.

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

I've done alts on old schools and you have to tighten the alt down the slide tensioner. Idk if that's what it's called but that's what it looks like.

 

[NASTY08IMPALA 5,000+ posts]

Is there a way to measure how much smaller? I used some tape to measure the circufrance and its about 2" difference .

Just go with a 1/ 2" if ur tensioner isnt bad it should be ok ..if u notice slipping or noise go 1 inch ...some ppl dont have to change at all ..but id go at least a half inch ..i got no real math to help out i just know belts come in half inch increments ..and dont cheap out on a belt ...get a nice gatorback or gates

 

[mylows10 5,000+ posts]

It depends on your car some don't need to change the belt. Others do I most cases no tho if it's an older car with a sliding bracket then change the belt

 

[blowthemup 10+ year member]

Thanks I'll try the stock belt and if it slips I'll get a smaller one.

The stud on the new alternator is to big for my stock wire/ring terminal to fit. The wire runs to the fuse box then the fuse box runs to the battery. Can I tape up the factory wire and leave it off going from alternator to fuse box. I know this isn't ideal and you should always add too your existing wiring but being my problem, will it work ok until I get some bigger ring terminals and run a new wire? I have a 0 gauge run from alternator to battery.

 

[blowthemup 10+ year member]

Got things all straightened out but what a headache it was. The large stud ended up having a soft adapter on it that I broke when tightening down the nut. The stud underneath ended up being the size I needed. The original belt seems to be fine but I haven't driven the car yet just crunk it up and revved her up. Still gotta get the bumper back on though. Had to take the front bumper, upper radiator support, radiator fan, and pcv valve to swap alternators, thats a crap load of work just for an alternator but it was well worth the results. No more dimming lights and voltage doesn't drop below 14 at full tilt. Couldnt be more happy with Singer Alternators, he did a great job and answered all my questions. I recommend Singer for anyone needing a high output alternator.

 

[blowthemup 10+ year member]

Still trying to get my belt figured out. Took it off and measured it, stock belt is 66.9 inches and it has 7 ribs. I need half an inch to an inch smaller and I cant find one. Gator belts goes from my stock size at 67" to 65.5" and I feel like thats gonna be too tight. I'm not so sure it is belt slippage i'm getting, no squeaking or squealing just sounds like a turbine after 4k rpms or so. Maybe the new alternator is just noisy at higher rpms?

 

[jrdnhsnbrg 10+ year member]

Still trying to get my belt figured out. Took it off and measured it, stock belt is 66.9 inches and it has 7 ribs. I need half an inch to an inch smaller and I cant find one. Gator belts goes from my stock size at 67" to 65.5" and I feel like thats gonna be too tight. I'm not so sure it is belt slippage i'm getting, no squeaking or squealing just sounds like a turbine after 4k rpms or so. Maybe the new alternator is just noisy at higher rpms?

That's normal.

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

Still trying to get my belt figured out. Took it off and measured it, stock belt is 66.9 inches and it has 7 ribs. I need half an inch to an inch smaller and I cant find one. Gator belts goes from my stock size at 67" to 65.5" and I feel like thats gonna be too tight. I'm not so sure it is belt slippage i'm getting, no squeaking or squealing just sounds like a turbine after 4k rpms or so. Maybe the new alternator is just noisy at higher rpms?

Dude, my alt does it too. It's because it's high power, producing a lot of amperage and the tolerances inside are really tight, so air probably whistles around when it starts moving really fast. My alt does the same thing at an even lower RPM, I've heard other alts do it too. We kind of thought is was speaker wine but it's actually just that monster alt that I have, and you have.

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

I don't know the internals of alts, but the spinning portion on mine is very close to the wrapping, like you can barely fit a screwdriver between them. UPS or whoever dropped it a bit so it was rubbing, so just a very small shift made it rub. So the point is as that alt is spinning, there's a lot of air being squeezed inside of that alt.

 

[garychurch84 10+ year member]

Unsized pulley for better idle performance.which spins the alt much faster than standard.same as my supercharger smaller pulley more boost a lot more whine.

 

[blowthemup 10+ year member]

Haven't had any problems yet, glad to know others have had this noise as well.