I haven't done mine yet but I am thinking of sending my starter and alternator to those BNR guys in Van Nuys, CA. No experience with them though.
1984 spider alternator
Hi, Guys gonna replace the alternator on my spider. I was wondering if its necessary to get the bosch one or I have seen other brands that are cheaper and say they are O.E fit and all.
what do u guys think have any of you had experience with this I also know of a shop where I am living that all they do Is alternators and Starters.
Do you think It might be cheaper to pull mines and just have it rebuilt by them.
Angel
what do u guys think have any of you had experience with this I also know of a shop where I am living that all they do Is alternators and Starters.
Do you think It might be cheaper to pull mines and just have it rebuilt by them.
Angel
1 - 20 of 24 Posts
I have used BNR, and was pleased. The odd thing is that they didn't want my old cores - their (low) prices are not for rebuilding your old unit. They just supply rebuilt replacements.
Note that BNR sells through an ebay store - see: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Alfa-Romeo-Spider-Alternator-High-Output-80-Amp-81-89-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQfitsZMakeQ3aAlfaQ20RomeoQQhashZitem3cafe3f366QQitemZ260648989542QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
Note that BNR sells through an ebay store - see: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Alfa-Romeo-Spider-Alternator-High-Output-80-Amp-81-89-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQfitsZMakeQ3aAlfaQ20RomeoQQhashZitem3cafe3f366QQitemZ260648989542QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
I just had my starter rebuilt at a local shop as I didn't want to hassle with getting purchasing the wrong one (pinion gear etc.). I spent just under $75.
I have not had to do my alternator but I believe I would purchase a rebuilt that had additonal output capacity. My grounds are clean and I have no issues but the OEM alternator is marginal for the car's requirements.
I have not had to do my alternator but I believe I would purchase a rebuilt that had additonal output capacity. My grounds are clean and I have no issues but the OEM alternator is marginal for the car's requirements.
IMO, if you find a rebuilder that actually rebuilds your original item, you'll get a better product. (that shop is usually run by an old guy located in a building on the wrong side of the tracks).
Most 'rebuilt' units are done in an assembly line shop by low wage grunts. They throw in some new parts, slap on some cheap paint and call it good.
Most 'rebuilt' units are done in an assembly line shop by low wage grunts. They throw in some new parts, slap on some cheap paint and call it good.
If you've got a local guy who rebuilds alternators, then that's the way to go. Plus you won't have the hassle of swapping pulleys.
Just to play devils advocate . . . do you have any real evidence of this statement or is this more of the common wisdom?IMO, if you find a rebuilder that actually rebuilds your original item, you'll get a better product. (that shop is usually run by an old guy located in a building on the wrong side of the tracks).
Most 'rebuilt' units are done in an assembly line shop by low wage grunts. They throw in some new parts, slap on some cheap paint and call it good.
I installed a BNR alternator from ebay on my 87 Quad with no problems so far.
Well, I did preface it with 'IMO'...Just to play devils advocate . . . do you have any real evidence of this statement or is this more of the common wisdom?
A brother-in-law told me about working in an automotive electrical rebuilding shop - admittedly many years ago (1970's). On Monday's they'd sort out & tear down all the cores - tossing all the parts into bins - cases, armatures, end caps, etc. Tuesdays they'd clean up the parts. Wednesdays they'd assemble them with a few new parts as appropriate and slap some paint on them. Box them up & ship them out Friday. The interesting part (to me) was that only obviously broken/defective parts were tossed into the trash. Often bearings were not replaced, commutators not turned/undercut, etc. And the parts of any particular unit were not kept together but they were all intermixed.
Well Whats funny about Eric's description is that the shop is located in an industrial part of San Luis Obispo its two older guys doing the work and there shop is right behind a railroad track man Eric That is good that is the way im going. they also rebuild other stuff auto parts store are always using these guys so yep cut out the middle man
Thanks
Guys
Thanks
Guys
Ah, yes. The shop I mentioned earlier is not in the best part of our town...not bad, just not were you want to hang out. That being said, the shop is the only game in town any more and talking to the owner was quite eye opening.
The owner told me that in the last year, they started selling rebuilt starters and alternators 'off the shelf' ie, not ones they had done in their shop. He stated that the profit margin was much better and customers appreciated being able to walk in with the bad and walk out with the good. The owner stated that last year had been much more profitable that the few year before.
Now if I could just find someone to core a radiator....
The owner told me that in the last year, they started selling rebuilt starters and alternators 'off the shelf' ie, not ones they had done in their shop. He stated that the profit margin was much better and customers appreciated being able to walk in with the bad and walk out with the good. The owner stated that last year had been much more profitable that the few year before.
Now if I could just find someone to core a radiator....
Yep I had asked someone how much to add another row for my radiator he said " too expensive brass is like gold"
Angel
Angel
I had both my starter and alternator rebuilt by an industrial rebuilder in Memphis TN. Their prices are about the same as Bosch rebuilt units which carry numbers like XXXSR. This is Bosch's own rebuilt program. The rebuilder's prices ran a little over $100.00 per unit and they hand you back your original unit. I did not go digging into the internals to see it they used Genuine Bosch or aftermarket, but the for the solinoid on the starter they used a Genuine Bosch replacement. After 2 years, no problems. I would recommend the local rebuilder if you know they are reliable and have been in busisness for years.
BTW - Bosch themselves are starting to use outside suppliers for some of their most common parts. I bought a universal relay to use in some applications recommended here on the BB, and had a devils time getting Genuine Bosch made in Germany. The suppier had plenty of the relays under the Bosch part number, but only older stock was Genuine Bosch made in Germany. All the rest said Bosch, but were stamped MADE IN (I forget where, but it was not Germany.)
All this just for what it may be worth.
Robert Hill in Memphis, TN
currently 1988 red Quad
BTW - Bosch themselves are starting to use outside suppliers for some of their most common parts. I bought a universal relay to use in some applications recommended here on the BB, and had a devils time getting Genuine Bosch made in Germany. The suppier had plenty of the relays under the Bosch part number, but only older stock was Genuine Bosch made in Germany. All the rest said Bosch, but were stamped MADE IN (I forget where, but it was not Germany.)
All this just for what it may be worth.
Robert Hill in Memphis, TN
currently 1988 red Quad
Well guys i was curios so i went to Oreilly's to see how much a alternator would run. they said a rebuilt would would run me 82 dollars. I said to myself hey thats not bad but the question is What type of quality would this alternator be. I guess i would also have to swap pulleys. What do you guys think
My guess would be that there is some truth to ghnl's statement. Although I have had good luck so far with my BNR starter and alternator, I can't imagine that for their $110 price they can do a comprehensive rebuild AND buy the core.Just to play devils advocate . . . do you have any real evidence of this statement or is this more of the common wisdom?
There is a well-respected automotive electrical shop here in town. I asked its owner about sources for local rebuilding before buying from BNR. He hedged on answering my question - perhaps because I was just looking for a reference and not to have him R&R the starter and alternator. But he did comment that many of the rebuilds that he has seen were of "scary" quality.
I bought a rebuilt alternator on eBay 4 years ago. The seller was an industrial rebuilder somewhere in Cal. I think I paid around $50 for it. Swapping the pulley was easy because I've got an impact wrench. It has worked beautifully. While you at it, upgrade the cable from the alternator to the junction box in the inner fender. I used a starter cable from Pep Boys. HUGE difference.
Just curious here- can anyone recommend a better than stock alternator, since the original is, as previously stated, marginal?
Hutbed
84 Veloce
Hutbed
84 Veloce
I don't agree that it is marginal. It is adequate for all the stock needs. Unless you are adding some megawatt stereo system or off road lighting...
What is often marginal is the wiring & connections. A loose or corroded terminal (or more likely multiple slightly loose & corroded terminals) will rob the system of the electrons available.
What is often marginal is the wiring & connections. A loose or corroded terminal (or more likely multiple slightly loose & corroded terminals) will rob the system of the electrons available.
I'll have to look into that then, but may still need more juice in the end. With the stereo off, but lights and defrost on, my batt light comes on every time. In addition to that, I would eventually like to fit a slim sub/amp unit under the deck panel behind the seats. Nothing intense, but definitely enough for concern since I'm already getting low voltage warnings.
May not mean anything significant.lights and defrost on, my batt light comes on every time...
Connect a voltmeter to the battery and see what it reads with various electrical loads & engine speeds. If the voltmeter shows a fairly steady reading >13.8V at engine speeds above ~ 2000 rpm with the extra loads applied, a 'bigger' alternator is not going to help.
1 - 20 of 24 Posts
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