Old 60amp to CS 180 amp conversion

[69CamaroRacer]

I just switched out my old 63 amp alt for a new custom built CS style 180amp alt and I must have not wired somting correctly because I have no power anywhere in the car. There were 2 wires going into the old clip that clipped into the side of the old alt and 1 wire that connected to the battrie post on the back of the alt. One of the wires that clipped into the side then exited and went to the battrie connection on the back of the alt.. That was how the old sys was wired with no problems.. so this is how I have it now.. there is the battrie wire that goes to the back of the post and then the 1 orange wire that clips into the alt that I connected to the wire that was in the engine harness. I was told that this should be the signal wire. Well with that hooked up I have no power anywhere in the car.. The battrie has 11.8 volts in it so I know that there is some juice there so what am I doing wrong??? Don't they make a kit for this conversion somewhere?

[derekf]

Useful info here:

http://www.madelectrical.com/electrical-tech.shtml

I think that'd help, anyway.

[gmachinz]

You need to make sure your car has been re-wired to accept the newer CS style alternator-you can't just fasten the newer style connector on place of the old one and plug it in-also, I would totally revamp the way the charging lead and voltage sensing circuit read amperage demand based on the articles in the afformentioned madelectrical site using a common +12v power junction-it's very useful! -Jabin

[LowBuckX]

Here is the difinitive guide to the conversion. No need for a long winded commentary just read here.. http://www.chevelles.com/techref/tecref14.html

[gmachinz]

That's a good article for the external reg. mod and for choosing an alternator-other than that, follow Mark Hamilton's article on the actual wiring for maximum performance afterwards. -Jabin

[Steve N 69 69 69]

I got a CS 144 alt. from these guys. http://www.alternatorparts.com/ they have some adapters too, and some great tech articles. I just ran new wire to the alt with a $7.00 "GM style" plug from Kragen, and some 4 ga. wire. to distribution point (via Mad Enterprises advice), then to the Bat.
be sure you have a light bulb, or a resistor of any value between 35 ohm, 5 watt, and 500 ohm. 1/2 watt between switched 12v and "L" terminal on the alt. , or you'll cook the regulator after a while.