Hidden Noises

[Kilgore47]

I recently had a new exhaust system put on the P15.  Now that it's nice and quiet I can hear the noises that were hidden by the leaking exhaust.  Could hear the valves clacking before but now they are louder than I think they should be so they will need to be adjusted.  Not a big surprise and I'll get that done.  The one that surprised me was an intermittent crunching noise at idle.  So I got out the stethoscope and tracked it down to the front bearing on the generator.  It may be time to make the switch to an alternator.     

[Plymouthy Adams]

front bearing is not a hard to do install...but if you ready to upgrade...this may be the very shove you need in that direction.....many like to keep them 6 volt and such...that is fine if you do not want other creature comforts...sure you can get step up power unit...but I wonder how many actually see the input to output ratio and loss of power and tax on the generator.

[Kilgore47]

I would like to keep the generator.  Depends on the cost of repairs verses the cost of a 6 volt positive ground alternator.  I've looked up the alternators and know about how much they cost.  Had the generator apart when I first got the car and some of the windings look a little toasted.  It works but while it's off I'll take it by the rebuild guy and find out how much it would cost for a rebuild.  The good thing is that either way once it's fixed I shouldn't have to worry about that again.

[chrysler1941]

Presuming you were not using stethoscope at commutator, front bearing is cheap and easy to replace.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/TMK-203AB

[Kilgore47]

It took way longer to get around to working on the 47 than I expected.  The generator is now on my work bench and in pieces.  Was going to try and replace the bearing and bushing.  Found the bearing no problem.  Finding the bushing has been more of a challenge.  I went by a local shop where the guy has been rebuilding starters, alternators and generators for 40 years. He had a bushing that would work.  While there I asked him to look at the generator and tell me what he thought.  He recommended a rebuild before it left me stranded.  That would be about 200 dollars.  And that was when I decided to go ahead with the alternator swap.  A 6 volt positive ground 60 amp alternator is on order.  About 200 dollars.  Complete with the universal mounting kit and a pulley to fit the wide belt on these cars.

 

I'll fix the bearing and bushing on the generator and keep it for a spare.  Or maybe trade it for something one day.  It can't be worth very much like it is.

 

Problem solved.