Help quick 2.3l alternator

[JoshT]

I know this is a wrong section, but I need some help quick and figure it'll get seen quicker here.

1985 Ranger 2.3 alternator bolt spacing what is it? That is the mounting bolts. 7 inch or 8.125 inch?

1983-1991 2.0L and 2.3L should all be the same.

Might get to go junkyard hunting in the morning, looking for an alternator going to upgrade to 3G. I don't have my bracket for the engine yet or I'd go out and measure it myself. Have one on the way, but it looks like it'll be next week before it arrives, and I don't know when the next chance I'll have to go hunting is.

 

[55trucker]

hmmm..........why would you want to purchase a used alternator & one going back that far? There's no guarantee how long anything electrical that old will last, in my opinion you're better off getting a new one or an over the counter rebuilt item.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

I would say get anew alternator, but new parts suck nowadays. Either get the used one rebuilt, or get a quality new one.

I wouldnt worry about the bolt spacing too much, as long as its in the ballpark, washers can space it in or out a bit, as long as nothing is too short...plus I think there should be enough room behind the bracket for the bolt to stick past the threads a bit.

 

[JoshT]

I'm not worried about bolt length I need bolt spacing. Center to Center distance.

Even if I buy new/reman I'm still going to need that measurement to match it up.

As for why buy used. Most everything new/reman I've found locally is at least twice as much before core, than the used is with core. I don't even have a core to turn in, which makes it worse.

 

[JoshT]

Well I had a moment of clarity, or maybe a sudden stroke of not quite genius, after my last post. I didn't want a stock 85 Alternator, doesn't mean a stock alternator doesn't have the info I needed. Stopped by the autoparts store after work and measured a stock alternator. For future refrence bolt spacing on an 85 Ranger 2.3 alternator is 7 inches.

With that I got a junk yard alternator for less than the price of a core charge. One I got ended up being from a 1997 Mustang 3.8L. May or not be good. Had it tested twice, one said bad the other said kinda good. I may pull the regulator and brushes off the 3G in my F-100 (8.125" spacing) and see how it works in this one. I wanted to put an alternator with load response control (LRC) on the F-100 but I couldn't get one at the time. LRC is built into the regulator and somehow reduces/delays load on the engine when voltage draw increases. Apparently it was intended for weaker engines when things like A/C or E-fans kitck on, but it seems to have the effect of preventing belt slipage on v-belt systems. I had to go dual belt on the F-100 to keep it from slipping, I'd rather be able to run one belt and have that extra seeve on the crank for when I add A/C.

If the regulator brings back the used alternator, it's a cheap fix and killing two birds with one stone. If it does not I'll use the bad alternator to hold a belt while putting truck put back together and use it as a core once my wallet recouperates from other recent expenses.

 

[55trucker]

If the regulator brings back the used alternator, it's a cheap fix and killing two birds with one stone. If it does not I'll use the bad alternator to hold a belt while putting truck put back together and use it as a core once my wallet recouperates from other recent expenses.

I've been in the position in the past when the alternators regulator failed (75,000 miles) , installed a new regulator pack, cured the immediate issue but that process doesn't cure the worn slip rings. Even tho you've had the unit tested you can't see how much of the slip rings are still there. One can pull out the regulator to get a look inside but wear & tear can't be avoided, once their gone their gone, a rebuild would be in order.

 

[JoshT]

Honestly if I get any time out of the alternator it will be worth it. I'm hoping this engine won't be in the truck more than about 2 years and it won't be a daily or going on long trips in that time.

I'm not against doing a whole rebuild either. It's something I've considered trying before, but never a good chance or reason. This could be both, since I don't need to be in a rush to get it put back together. Also I think I might have 2 or 3 other 3G alternators I could possibly cannablize for parts if one of them has better slip rings. 2000 Ranger parts truck, 1998 Explorer V8 donor, and possibly a 2002 taurus if those are still 3G. All are the wrong mounting style, but same case size and amperage should be the same for the Ranger and Explorer at least.