Alternator brand options.

Going to pick up a new alternator for the truck soon figured I would ask if there is a specific brand that has been more reliable than others? Was just going to go to oreillys and pick one up.

O' really? Autolite used to be a decent unit. I suppose now it depends upon the depth of your pocket and the desired warranty time but then again, parts stores are not responsible for the labor.

I would go get whatever lifetime warranty one the store that's also a nationwide chain has that is nearest to you (like O'Reilly). At least the alternator is the easiest thing to change, so if you get a dud, it's not horrible to change out again. I wouldn't worry about brand.

Fwiw, when I got my truck the alt was bad, I thought I’d do it once, do it right, rebuilt motorcraft, new regulator, new batteries, it lasted just about a year. When my gen 1 went out, I looked at rebuilding it myself, read a lot, watched some videos but your dealing with an alternator that was practically obsolete when our trucks got them and they’ve been rebuilt umpteen times with Chinese guts so if you don’t want to upgrade, I’d second just whatever chain with lifetime warranty is closest to you. I like to check a job off and not go back to it again for at least a few years in the end I bought this set and I’m really happy with it https://classicdieseldesigns.com/co...ducts/3g-alternator-swap-kit-for-6-9-7-3-idis

notenuftime said:

Going to pick up a new alternator for the truck soon figured I would ask if there is a specific brand that has been more reliable than others? Was just going to go to oreillys and pick one up.

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Rebuilt Napa alt and new Motorcraft regulator have held up for a couple of years now.

Powermaster makes great rebuilds fyi.

But I also like RVITKO’s suggestion. 3g is more simple to diagnose in the future with it built in regulator. Also charges at a higher rate.

Getting harder to find.. but you maybe able to find an alternator and starter rebuild shop (usually some ol guy working in a small grungy shop). I've had better luck with old school rebuild shops than buying "rebuilds" at the big box stores.

jrollf said:

Getting harder to find.. but you maybe able to find an alternator and starter rebuild shop (usually some ol guy working in a small grungy shop). I've had better luck with old school rebuild shops than buying "rebuilds" at the big box stores.

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I have the best rebuilder in town, we are on a first name basis he has done so much work for me.

It's easy to suggest a 3G upgrade, but it has a few issues that need to be resolved or lived with if you swap. Namely a single v-belt will not support the full output of the 130 amp unit, so the belt tends to squeal after start-up.

franklin2 said:

It's easy to suggest a 3G upgrade, but it has a few issues that need to be resolved or lived with if you swap. Namely a single v-belt will not support the full output of the 130 amp unit, so the belt tends to squeal after start-up.

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I have not had issues with a squealing belt on my alternator. It is a 130 amp 3g with a single driven v-belt and a second belt that drives the vacuum pump. I've got some high amp draw accessories on the truck, a winch and a 2000 watt inverter. If you put a 1500 watt 120VAC load on the inverter the inverter will pull around 150 amps from the batteries and the 3g will put out around 65 amps at idle and around 135 amps at 1400 rpm while that's happening (all verified with a current clamp).

I'm not saying he would be guaranteed to not have any issues on his own truck, but on my truck the single V-belt has been sufficient even at max output of the alternator.

i install this one a couple of years ago, and love it...