Alternator or No Alternator

Does anyone know of an alternator bracket for an A460 block or TFS A460 heads? I was originally not going to run an alternator, but started thinking about late in the rounds, would I be able to charge the batteries AND cool the engine (Electric Water Pump and Fan)? I was going to run dual 16v batteries, so I cant charge and run the fan and pump at the same time(have to have the battery disconnected). What are you guys doing? 1 12v battery and alternator? What is the most cost effective way to handle this? If it is cheaper to buy a single battery and run an alternator, or will 1 battery and having to charge between rounds be enough? If I dont run an alternator, do I have to run 2 batteries and charge between rounds. I would have to have a charger then. This is my first race only car.

Thanks

David

If you plan on being a serious round robin racer ,I would suggest running a Alt. jmo

the alt doesnt bolt to the head on 460, youll have to fab one,or buy an aftermarket mount for an aftermarket alt



try powermaster

i have been running no alt for yrs now in my pulling truck
and i am sick of always having to worry if i have enof charge and will i have enof time befor my new run to charge i even went to a 16v battery and it helped but wasnt the answer
i would recomend a 16v battery and a 16v alt seems like the fuel pump and water pump fans ect
rilly like the 16v.
i was gonna go back to a 12v set up with a alt but i found a guy that makes and sells 16v alt's pretty cheap and the pullys you will need
now as far as mounting the alt i also have A head svo block but i also run a front motor plate
and that is were i am gonna mount mine
if you wanna talk tp the guy on the alt pm me i will give you his number

I've round robin a single 12 lead acid battery no problem...no alt.

16v is better, but costs more, and takes a special charger.

richter69 wrote:I've round robin a single 12 lead acid battery no problem...no alt.

16v is better, but costs more, and takes a special charger.

Yea,but you don't need a fan and a water pump running between rounds too cool off either.

bbf-falcon wrote:

richter69 wrote:I've round robin a single 12 lead acid battery no problem...no alt.

16v is better, but costs more, and takes a special charger.

Yea,but you don't need a fan and a water pump running between rounds too cool off either.

yep.......when i ran gas i ran one too.i still want to get one back on somewhere with the belt drive pump and vac pump. if i only had a dry sump pump too!

I didnt always run my shyt on alky, the same single lead acid battery w no alt worked with a fan, wp, fp, etc etc.


...........and I still run a wp now that I do lol,

it is a bit differnt for me with truck pullin
we run elec hyd steering witch suxs up a ton of batt power
i run that off 1 batt alone
if i were drag racing i am not shure i would worry about an alt
but i would go with 2 16v batterys just to be safe
it isnt cheap but i feel it was worth it
if it wernt for hot lapping i would not worry about a alt
i make a run and might have to run again 10 min later
depending on if i turn down a hook or they have to re set the sled

jesse wrote:it is a bit differnt for me with truck pullin
we run elec hyd steering witch suxs up a ton of batt power
i run that off 1 batt alone
if i were drag racing i am not shure i would worry about an alt
but i would go with 2 16v batterys just to be safe
it isnt cheap but i feel it was worth it
if it wernt for hot lapping i would not worry about a alt
i make a run and might have to run again 10 min later
depending on if i turn down a hook or they have to re set the sled

my neighbor runs 24v to start his puller with.i'd never saw it before but it damn sure turns over fast.lol

must be an external starter

jesse wrote:must be an external starter

2 12v's cross wired.crazy aint it.

Throught the first couple rounds, there will be plenty of time to charge and cool the car between rounds. I am more concerned with when I get to 8 or less cars. I may only get 10-15 mins between rounds. Will a single 16v battery get through 2-3 rounds of racing with running the cooling fan and water pump between rounds without charging or will I need 2 batteries? Will that even be enough? I want a bracket car, not a race car that I brought to a bracket race. I assume that running a single 12v battery and an alternator is cheaper and more reliable? I will be running motor plates so who makes an aftermarket bracket for an aftermarket alternator that works well? I assume I would drill my own holes in the front motor plate to mount the bracket and a small belt to drive the alternator off the crank pulley?

The Alt. would be very easy too install in your deal. Put it on and not worry about it again imo.

I have always used 2 -12V batteries, never used an alternator. I just don't believe that a drag race engine runs long enough to make an alternator really effective. When I built my car, I made sure it would be capable of making 3 passes round robin. Thats typically the most you would ever have to do around here, even at a big event. I do use a belt driven fuel pump to help achieve this. I usually swap out batteries every 2 years.

I tried using a single battery without an alt. and it just didn't have enough capacity to make it through a night of racing.

Thanks for the info guys. My last question on this subject is about the batteries. Which cost effective batteries are working without problems for you guys? Optima, Turbo Start, or a regular automotive type? Rock batteries are a little more than I would like to spend right now.

Just for giggles,,, with alcohol,



1) you can get by without running a high amp draw cooling fan,



2) belt drive fuel pump



3) not alcohol, but you can run CO2 shifters, SLE (or throttle stop) and transbrakes.



4) get a good starter that doens't draw a bunch of amps to turn the motor over



5) 16v will get it running sooner with less amp loss (quantity of 1)



Not much power needed for a very full night of racing with this set up. If you're good enough to go some rounds, you might use more juice running the headlights on the return road.

Just for giggles,,, with alcohol,



1) you can get by without running a high amp draw cooling fan,



2) belt drive fuel pump



You can run a belt drive pump with gasoline too!

BigDave65 wrote:Just for giggles,,, with alcohol,



1) you can get by without running a high amp draw cooling fan,



2) belt drive fuel pump



You can run a belt drive pump with gasoline too!

Tru Dat!

BigDave65 wrote:Just for giggles,,, with alcohol,



1) you can get by without running a high amp draw cooling fan,



2) belt drive fuel pump



You can run a belt drive pump with gasoline too!

I ran a cam driven 80A-0 on gas in 1990

Lem Evans wrote:I ran a cam driven 80A-0 on gas in 1990

Wasn't that back when you and Gaston Planté were hanging out together?

If it ever misfires going down the track due to low voltage or just doesent restart in round robin you'll wish you had one.

No sir but, I used to date his mother

Lem Evans wrote:No sir but, I used to date his mother