1 or 2 wire alternator for 440 with msd ignition

[nr1freak]

hi guys!

i'm ordering parts for my 70 barracuda-to-440-'cuda build and as i was ordering parts from the classic industries catalogue i'm puzzled about what type of alternator i need... they sell the 1 or 2 wire alternator.

which type is the best for a 440 engine with MSD ingintion and how many Amps should it put out?

[Sonnythebull]

1 wire with the highest amps you can get. Least amount of trouble on all my cars

[nr1freak]

i see they have a 140 Amp type, (i believe original 440's had 100 Amp, so that should be sufficient) with a 2V-belt pulley but it doesn't say in the catalogue if it's a one or two wire-type... need to know that for my wiring harnass, i've got my eye on one that's good for two wire-type alternators and MSD ignition...
better send an email to CA!
(i'm from belgium by the way and there's not a lot of suppliers so not a lot of catalogues to choose from...)

[Chryco Psycho]

if you are going to go above 60 Amp yu need a bypass to take power form the alt over to the battery terminal on the start realy to prevent melting down the ammeter & bulkhead connector

[nr1freak]

if you are going to go above 60 Amp yu need a bypass to take power form the alt over to the battery terminal on the start realy to prevent melting down the ammeter & bulkhead connector

ah, so that's why there's a second wire? you gotta fill me in here, first project and i'm more of a bodywork-kinda guy 

[Chryco Psycho]

the alts I am familiar with have either 1 wire GM style or 3 wire output,  power to the field & field ground to the external reg
 2 wires ?

[nr1freak]

the alts I am familiar with have either 1 wire GM style or 3 wire output,  power to the field & field ground to the external reg
 2 wires ?

yea, that's what it says: single wire or double wire output... i'm puzzled! wouldn't be that much of a deal because the 140AMP type (just found out) is a single wire type but that means it wouldn't fit that wiring harnass i want because that needs a double wire alt.
strange thing is they have a smaller, 75 Amp alt. with single OR double wire output...

there's no talk of a 3 wire output... it's in the Classic Industries MOPAR catalog

[dodj]

ah, so that's why there's a second wire? you gotta fill me in here, first project and i'm more of a bodywork-kinda guy 

Different alt design. The bypass CP is talking about is to save the connector that passes the alt o/p into the interior of the car. It wasn't made to handle very much. I believe the original alts were only about 40 amp, not 140 so you need to make a few mods to assist the 'weak links' in the original design. The alt bypass wire is a fused wire directly from the alt o/p to the battery, bypassing the bulkhead connector (saving it from meltdown from too much current).
Harnesses you may buy for your build will be two wire if original. Single may be the better design? But you will need to re-wire/mod harness as needed.

[nr1freak]

Different alt design. The bypass CP is talking about is to save the connector that passes the alt o/p into the interior of the car. It wasn't made to handle very much. I believe the original alts were only about 40 amp, not 140 so you need to make a few mods to assist the 'weak links' in the original design. The alt bypass wire is a fused wire directly from the alt o/p to the battery, bypassing the bulkhead connector (saving it from meltdown from too much current).
Harnesses you may buy for your build will be two wire if original. Single may be the better design? But you will need to re-wire/mod harness as needed.

ah so the 75 amp double wire would fit that wiring harnass and cope with the added amp it needs for the MSD? not sure if i wanna mod that harnass too much, like i said, i'm electrically challenged :-)

[dodj]

I run a 75 amp 2 wire with a 440and MSD 6A. Works for me. Below is a link to the electrical mod you should do (if originality is no issue) regardless of the alt you choose.

http://www.madelectrical.com/electricaltech/amp-gauges.shtml

[nr1freak]

I run a 75 amp 2 wire with a 440and MSD 6A. Works for me. Below is a link to the electrical mod you should do (if originality is no issue) regardless of the alt you choose.

http://www.madelectrical.com/electricaltech/amp-gauges.shtml

awesome! that should put me on the right track! thx!

[Chryco Psycho]

anything over 55 amp I would still run a bypass to the start relay , the MSD does not draw significant current