Well my alternator is going for the 2nd time in 3 and 1/2 years. i got the 88 3.8. Does anybody have any idea of a good sturdy alternator that will last a while? :birdsmily:
Expensive, but worth it, IMO.
http://www.pa-performance.com/display.asp?sku=3
I second the PA Performance recommendation. Have a 95A (actually maxxes out at 120A according to their spec sheet) small-case alt in my LSC and I love it. Very solid even with the high beams on, A/C on max, and the stereo loud.
If you go for an upgrade like that, I also recommend getting one of their 4 ga. alt-to-battery wire kits with a high-amp fuse box on it.
I like my pa-performance too, I got the 3G 130amp guy, it worked great for 3-4 years, than last year it broke I called them up, they apologized for the inconvenience and I got a new one the next day no questions asked. Also they gave me prepaid shipping for sending the old one back.
Oh and before the pa-performance alt I was going throught the pep-boys rebuilds every 2-3 months, like 4 or 5 of them.
pa performance all the way,... join us....
I've got two of those alternators like in the add above.Not PA performance,but tested good.I think I have about 6 3G's on the bench.I grab them whenever I can.Someone always wants them.I polished mine and installed it last year.One of the best,easiest upgrades I've done.
I say just goto the parts store and get one from a 94 model 5.0 car. I think the crown vic has the side mounted ear wear it bolts to the bracket like the 3.8 cougar I had. I know when I did the 3G swap on mine I looked at the mustang and the corwn vic alts. One of them is the one for you. They both should be the 130amp model. If it isn't one of those models look at almost any 94 model car I'm thinking the Tuaras had the 130 amp also. Then you can just just mod your alternator harness. Very eazy and well worth it.
For the harness I took the entire harness from a early 90's taurus with a 3g. I got it complete from alternator end (with Plugs) to the fuse block. This got me the power wire with the fuse links also. I did not have to worry about connectors fuses etc. The length was perfect for my 5.0. Maybe the 3.8 is similar. The only changes I made was removing the factory wires, with the exception of the green wire which I spliced into the junkyard harness, reran the new wires anlong the oringinal path, and viola wiring done.
I would also suggest the PA alternator, if money is an issue maybe a junkyard alternator, or a good part house one. There is also ebay but check the feedback close.