130amp Alternator Upgrade
 

I was looking into upgrading to a 3G alternator for my 89lx, I notice a few companys make a kit to do this. Anyway I was told that the 94-00 Alternators are the same and that they interchange with Alternators from a 94-97 Thunderbird 3.8L non S/C, which by the way i can get for $50. Would this swap be possible? and how hard is it to cut and splice the proper wires to make it work?

We went with PA Performance, life time warranty, great technical support. Doing the wire changes really easy, they actually change from the bad Ford design connector which has led to some fires, to a better high amp connector.

Good Decision ;)

I used this HOW TO to help me in my project.

130 AMP Alternator Upgrade

Amazingly. The hardest part to find is a Butt Connector for 4 Gauge Wire. Because a ton of stereo shop in town solder the wires instead of using butt connector.

You can take a look in these two others one too.

130 Amp Alternator Project

130 AMP 3G "small Case" Alternator

and wear security glasses when you'll grind the bracket. :D

I used the second link...the Racesystems link, and it went on without a hitch! No problems one year after the install, and i got the alt from a junkyard.

When I did my 3G upgrade (PA Perf), I needed to trim the threaded bolt hole tab to fit the mounting bracket from my S-Trim kit. Not sure if you have a S/C or not but wanted to give my $.02 on that issue. Good luck
One other thing, be sure to upgrade the wire from the alt to the starter relay, a 4awg wire with a 200 amp fuse is what PA gives you (optionally).

i plan to have this done to my car next week by my mechanic. i bought an alternator last year and want to make sure it will work too. it is from a 94 t-bird. the junkyard said it was the same one as the one your talking about. i want to make sure before it is all hooked up to my car!

says : 94 t-bird 3.8 L 130 AMpw/o supercharger

thanks,

jim

Thats the alternator i got, one from a 94 T-Bird and it works great, did it myself and took me like 15 minutes. Longest part was to grind the bracket to make it fit

thanks a lot. i hope it works. looks lold and rusted in there but seems to spin freely still! IF for some reason this doesnt work, would installing the original alternator be a problem? thanks

jim

you could put your old alternator back on but it depends how the new one was installed. If you cut the old harness and wire in the 130amp, then all you would have to do is splice it back on. No biggie either way.