1965 ford thunderbird alternator wiring diagram

Sanchez usually grabs a complete alternator rear harness from any 3G-equipped Ford in the wrecking yard. What's a little confusing is that on most classic Ford muscle cars, the 1G alternator adjuster ear faces straight down as installed on the stock brackets, while on the 180-degree-opposed 3G late-model stock serpentine-drive installation, the adjuster ear mounts straight up-but we need to define a common reference point to determine the reclocking amount needed (if any).įor the 1966 Galaxie 352 shown in the photos, the new alternator's clocking was way off as delivered, but correcting it was a cinch: Unlike GM-style alternators, the internal brushes on Ford units are unlikely to fall out when separating the front and rear shells as long as the center black ring element doesn't pull away from the rear case shell. The amount of 'clocking' is the offset in imaginary old-style analog 'clock hours' between the case's small 'adjuster ear' and the battery-stud terminal and/or main connector, with the small adjuster ear facing straight up ('12 o'clock'). For the Ford-style alternator, we'll define the clock position as 'read' looking from the rear of the case forward. Both early and late Ford cases are held together by three bolts, so there are three possible clock positions. It's a better than even chance the new alternator case shells will require reclocking so the connections end up in the right orientation for your specific installation. Unlike sketchy wrecking-yard take-outs, AutoZone's Duralast alternators carry a lifetime warranty.

AutoZone's remanufactured Duralast unit for this application is PN DL. One 3G alternator configuration meeting this requirement was originally installed on 19941995 Mustang V8s, 19941997 Thunderbird/Cougar XR7 3.8L V6s, and 19942000 Mustang 3.8L V6s. Other 3G variations with offset ears or ears on one side of the case won't work as direct replacements. '- Mark Sanchez, AEWįor both 1G V-belt and most 2G serpentine-belt conversions, you want a 3G alternator with case mounting ears that are 180 degrees opposed (straight across from each other), with 6.900-inch bolt centerline spacing. 'All amped up and ready to go where no old Ford has gone before, Ford's 3G alternator is easy to swap into older Fords. Sanchez's preferred method of wiring the 3G up just like a Ford stocker lets you go to any auto-parts store for a replacement if the alternator takes a dump on a long-distance cruise-something you can't necessarily do with those universal one-wire alternators. We'll be using quality AutoZone-remanufactured alternators, plus a late-model Ford OE 3G harness scrounged from the wrecking yard. Let's take a closer look at the 3G, as well as what it takes to perform a quick, typical retrofit into a 1960s classic Ford, courtesy of Advanced Engineering West's Mark Sanchez. Highly reliable and easily adaptable, the 3G has become the go-to alternator for Ford retrofitters. Up to 200 stock amps are available with some variations 130-amp versions exist that still have directly opposed mounting ears that permit them to physically bolt right into place of that old model 1G using the existing 1G brackets. In 1994, Ford finally hit a home run, introducing the 3G integrally regulated alternator that remained in use on some Ford vehicles well into the 21st century.

1965 ford thunderbird alternator wiring diagram