Hey All,
I just got the cs144 installed and it was about as simple as mods get. Voltage stays pinned just below the mark above 13 V, even at idle! I'll put a meter on it tonight and see exactly what it's doing.
I found the adapter part number Echlin EC82 and the vehicle application listed in Spectre and others' posts (big help, thanks guys!):
90-95 Cadillac Deville w/o heated windshield
But there was no mention of the motor displacement in those threads. I got the one for 4.9 L and it works great. AFAICT the 4.6 application is identical except the clocking, but I did not get my hands on one.
Removing the serpentine pully was a little harder than I expected. Napa couldn't get it off, so I had to do it myself; it had a tapered split sleeve making it a press fit, so required a puller to get it off. Of course I ruined the serp pully, but I have no use for it anyway.
The 4.9 configuration has the plug clocked facing down, parallel with a line drawn between the two mounting holes, low on the drivers side. The output terminal is low on the passenger side. The plug facing down is important because the notch it creates is needed to clear the oil filter.
The oil filter limits the adjustment range and makes it hard to get the belts on, but otherwise it works great. Unlike the other writeups I made no modification to the slotted support or alternator tab. The slotted arm goes behind the bottom tab as original and uses the new 10 mm adjuster bolt. There is no extra clearance in the slot, but it goes in fine. I filed the threads down a few thou near the bolt head to make sure it didn't bind in the slot while adjusting, but I don't think it was really necessary.
For the time being I have a couple of washers on the pivot bolt to shim where the original rear support was; I'm planning to make a new rear support, but I'm not in a big hurry. There is a bolt hole on the back of the alt nearest the pivot bolt that I think will work well for this. I'll post some pictures when I come up with a solution.
For a new charging cable, I went to the boat store and got 2' of red marine fine strand #6 cable, 2x 5/16 ring terminals and 2x rubber end caps for about $10 and it makes a very neat solution. Of course you will need a battery cable crimper to swedge the ends...
Some have recommended significantly bigger cables, but #6 is rated for 120 A continuous in marine applications and I doubt it will ever see current that high.
This is a super easy install and I think the enhanced low speed output makes it well worth the trouble. It's really not much bigger than the SI-12.
I have no experience with the cs130, but I was afraid it would have poor idle output like the SI-12 did. This could be especially significant if you are ever thinking about putting in a big electric fan.
Walt
[ January 25, 2006, 03:24 PM: Message edited by: Walt ]
I just got the cs144 installed and it was about as simple as mods get. Voltage stays pinned just below the mark above 13 V, even at idle! I'll put a meter on it tonight and see exactly what it's doing.
I found the adapter part number Echlin EC82 and the vehicle application listed in Spectre and others' posts (big help, thanks guys!):
90-95 Cadillac Deville w/o heated windshield
But there was no mention of the motor displacement in those threads. I got the one for 4.9 L and it works great. AFAICT the 4.6 application is identical except the clocking, but I did not get my hands on one.
Removing the serpentine pully was a little harder than I expected. Napa couldn't get it off, so I had to do it myself; it had a tapered split sleeve making it a press fit, so required a puller to get it off. Of course I ruined the serp pully, but I have no use for it anyway.
The 4.9 configuration has the plug clocked facing down, parallel with a line drawn between the two mounting holes, low on the drivers side. The output terminal is low on the passenger side. The plug facing down is important because the notch it creates is needed to clear the oil filter.
The oil filter limits the adjustment range and makes it hard to get the belts on, but otherwise it works great. Unlike the other writeups I made no modification to the slotted support or alternator tab. The slotted arm goes behind the bottom tab as original and uses the new 10 mm adjuster bolt. There is no extra clearance in the slot, but it goes in fine. I filed the threads down a few thou near the bolt head to make sure it didn't bind in the slot while adjusting, but I don't think it was really necessary.
For the time being I have a couple of washers on the pivot bolt to shim where the original rear support was; I'm planning to make a new rear support, but I'm not in a big hurry. There is a bolt hole on the back of the alt nearest the pivot bolt that I think will work well for this. I'll post some pictures when I come up with a solution.
For a new charging cable, I went to the boat store and got 2' of red marine fine strand #6 cable, 2x 5/16 ring terminals and 2x rubber end caps for about $10 and it makes a very neat solution. Of course you will need a battery cable crimper to swedge the ends...
Some have recommended significantly bigger cables, but #6 is rated for 120 A continuous in marine applications and I doubt it will ever see current that high.
This is a super easy install and I think the enhanced low speed output makes it well worth the trouble. It's really not much bigger than the SI-12.
I have no experience with the cs130, but I was afraid it would have poor idle output like the SI-12 did. This could be especially significant if you are ever thinking about putting in a big electric fan.
Walt
[ January 25, 2006, 03:24 PM: Message edited by: Walt ]
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