Reply to "Dying Altenators"

Johnny,

There are alternators with internal voltage regulators having truly only 1 heavy wire connection, and there are those that have several wires. Often both types are referred to as one wire alternators. The only advantage of "true" one wire alternators is they reduce the amount of wiring in the engine compartment, a concern for owners of show cars. In a Pantera, the wiring up front really isn't visible to an observer peering into the engine bay from the rear of the car, and therefore there is little advantage for a one wire alternator, even in a Pantera show car.

There are several disadvantages to the one wire alternator. I do not recommend a one wire alternator, and suggest the Ford 3 wire alternator instead (voltage regulator is still internal to the alternator).

I fished around the internet and found this essay on the subject:

http://www.madelectrical.com/electricaltech/onewire-threewire.shtml

Your friend on the DTBB