Apologies if you've already read this on Introduction board, but thought best to repost in correct area. Hi - Am a bit new to all this and just got my 1975 van which already needs a repair! I'm seeing lots of helpful pages about taking 55 Amp alternators out of a late bay, but it seems a bit extreme just to change the voltage regulator. I can see the 3 screws and the alternator strap holding the coverplate on. Getting the screws off is easy enough, but the strap seems a bit of a mare. What with the oil filler neck, carburetta, etc in the way. What's the simplest way to get this thing swapped over? Any help greatfully appreciated!
pull the alternator out. cut a hole in the top and fit a engine lid from a t25..get some one else to do it. the possibillities are endless
Assuming a T1 engine ... There is a video on youtube where somebody releases the fan from the front , leaving it inside the fanshroud, with the fanshroud still in place - uses a 36mm socket on a breaker bar. The easiest way to get there is to take out the oil bath air filter and then you can reach round and touch the nut or get a spanner on it. Then he releases the strap on the alternator which is the very easy bit - loosen it off and push forwards. Then he collects all the shims on the alternator shaft between the nut and the fan before pulling out the alternator, and keeps the other shims on the alternator side . The alternator then pulls back out fairly easily in his video.. You cant get the fan out without undoing 4 nuts on the fanshroud, removing the carburettor and inlet manifold and probably the fuel pump and the distributor and alternator stand as well to free up the manifold pipe from behind the alternator. To get the alternator stand out you have to lift up the fan shroud by loosening the bolts either side of the fanshroud. So in the end if you keep the engine in, you have to take out most of the other bits on top of the engine before the alternator plus fan will come out together. Either all that or take the engine out and save yourself a lot of faff. It seems the fundamental trick is that to get to something its a lot easier to get other bits out of the way first - in your case if the carburettor gets in the way, unbolt it first. (two nuts, throttle cable , two power wires, a fuel hose and some vacuum pipes.) It can be a lot quicker to methodically strip parts off than try to fight your way around them.
It's a bit easier than that, lads...certainly no need to saw a hole in the engine compartment or take the engine out... Assuming it's a type 1: - disconnect the batt neg, or great sparks will fly - loosen the alt mounting strap and push it forward so it doesn't cover the little regulator cover - disconnect the main terminal and warning light connector from the alt - undo the three screws holding the cover plate (mirror is useful) - bit of levering and the reg + plate should just pop up - change reg (it's obvious), do everything in reverse - admire Relatively easy job
Thanks for the three great replies. I can see myself becoming quite addicted to this site. Yes it is a type 1 engine, the problem with loosening the strap bolt is the oil filler doesn't give me any space to get any of my sockets or spanners on it. Guess it's the usual case of having exactly the right tools makes for an easy job. Sounds like getting that air/oil bath out the way is the way forward for me - I've read of tools to remove the oil filler neck, but now it's Easter it'll be ages before I could get my hands on that. Any chance of a link to the utube video, I can't seem to hunt it down? If I'm feeling brave might take the opportunity to chance the V Belt & shims for the alternator as well (Wow...I'm talking like I know what I'm doing..definately v. dangerous!) Thanks
Thanks again for the advice. Gave me the gumption to go ahead and do it. Took that air filter off, bit still not enough access. Found a 32mm wooden drill bit perfect to unscrew the oil filler neck. Wonderful! Now that I understand it a bit better, it seems like my oil neck was pointing a bit too far forward (i.e. over the alternator strap bolt) and that the alternator strap bolt itself was rolled round too far down. When I put it back, made a few adjustments to the positions and it's easy access now. Happy days! Bad side was...although changed the internal voltage regulator, I've still got that Alternator Indicator light glow. Voltage still hits about 15.4 volts with the accelerator down a little. Double check it tomorrow, but I guess this would mean the real internal diodes on the alternator itself may be shot? Would possibly explain why my fuel gauge stopped working.
