66 BB Vette, no voltage regulator?

[Douglas C.]

A friends 66 427, someone restored it about 10 years ago, I don't recall the name but it was a NCRS experienced restorer. Car appears to not miss any even small details. Runs great, all electrical working, gauges, etc.

At a local car show and a guy with a 66 BB Vette says to us "hey, where is your voltage regulator?".


So, wow. Driver side inner fender has the 3 holes. I think the car is a transistor ignition. I cannot find a regulator, nothing under the hood / headlight area. Car runs fine. Has the correct alternator, could it have been converted to an internal regulator?


Any thoughts appreciated.


thanks. Doug

[Joe L.]

Re: 66 BB Vette, no voltage regulator?

A friends 66 427, someone restored it about 10 years ago, I don't recall the name but it was a NCRS experienced restorer. Car appears to not miss any even small details. Runs great, all electrical working, gauges, etc.

At a local car show and a guy with a 66 BB Vette says to us "hey, where is your voltage regulator?".


So, wow. Driver side inner fender has the 3 holes. I think the car is a transistor ignition. I cannot find a regulator, nothing under the hood / headlight area. Car runs fine. Has the correct alternator, could it have been converted to an internal regulator?


Any thoughts appreciated.


thanks. Doug

Doug------


I know of no way to convert a DN series alternator to internal regulator. Can you provide a photo of the alternator?

[Gene M.]

Re: 66 BB Vette, no voltage regulator?

Doug------


I know of no way to convert a DN series alternator to internal regulator. Can you provide a photo of the alternator?

I would not be so fast to say that. There is a voltage regulator solid state out there that when opened up is not much bigger than a postage stamp. So why not some clever rework to the DN housing to contain the tiny regulator? Where there is a will a way can be found.

[Mike T.]

Re: 66 BB Vette, no voltage regulator?

Doug - I have two midyear smallblock Coupes and one still has the original style 'DN' alternator, the other has a newer internally regulated 10SI alternator and no external voltage regulator. A quick way to spot the difference between the two is to look at the wiring harness plug to the alternator. The original style DN alternator has a plug that connects to the rear while the SI version plug connects along the outside perimeter of the alternator housing. The first pic is the original DN type and the second pic is the SI version.

[Joe L.]

Re: 66 BB Vette, no voltage regulator?

Doug - I have two midyear smallblock Coupes and one still has the original style 'DN' alternator, the other has a newer internally regulated 10SI alternator and no external voltage regulator. A quick way to spot the difference between the two is to look at the wiring harness plug to the alternator. The original style DN alternator has a plug that connects to the rear while the SI version plug connects along the outside perimeter of the alternator housing. The first pic is the original DN type and the second pic is the SI version.

Mike-------


Yes, you've pretty much illustrated what I was getting at and why I asked for a photo of the alternator in question. As can be seen, the difference in plugs is apparent. Even more pronounced is the difference in slip ring (rear) case half configuration.

By the way, the drive end case halves for 10DN and 10SI series alternators are functionally interchangeable (even though GM never used them interchangeably in PRODUCTION or SERVICE).

[Joe L.]

Re: 66 BB Vette, no voltage regulator?

I would not be so fast to say that. There is a voltage regulator solid state out there that when opened up is not much bigger than a postage stamp. So why not some clever rework to the DN housing to contain the tiny regulator? Where there is a will a way can be found.

Gene-------


I did not say that it could not be done. I just said that I don't know of a way to do it. I still don't but it may very well be possible. However, if someone did find a way to do it, it begs this question: why go through all the trouble of finding a way to convert a DN series alternator to internal regulator while keeping the alternator's external configuration completely intact and, at the same time, ending up with a car with a glaring configuration problem of no external voltage regulator? Just use a factory-engineered SI series alternator and be done with it.

[Gene M.]

Re: 66 BB Vette, no voltage regulator?

Gene-------


I did not say that it could not be done. I just said that I don't know of a way to do it. I still don't but it may very well be possible. However, if someone did find a way to do it, it begs this question: why go through all the trouble of finding a way to convert a DN series alternator to internal regulator while keeping the alternator's external configuration completely intact and, at the same time, ending up with a car with a glaring configuration problem of no external voltage regulator? Just use a factory-engineered SI series alternator and be done with it.

Agree, I have no idea why one would do this. Maybe just as something different to do........ The SI unit is a good alternative for up grade for anybody not concerned with originality.

[Joe L.]

Re: 66 BB Vette, no voltage regulator?

Another option for folks that want most of the benefits of an internal regulator while not converting to an SI series alternator is to use a transistorized external regulator in place of the electromechanical regulator. These transistorized units were actually used for 1965 Corvettes with K-66 and C-60 and may also have been used for some later DN-equipped Corvettes. Once-upon-a-time GM actually sold a kit to make the conversion easy. The GM part number for the transistorized regulator was GM #1116378. It's long-since discontinued but there always seems to be some "around".

[Douglas C.]

Re: 66 BB Vette, no voltage regulator?

Thanks so much guys. Sorry, got home late from work and could not get a picture from my buddy. I can tell you his is not original, it is # 1105045 66A.

Thanks again for taking the time to help.

Doug

[Leif A.]

Re: 66 BB Vette, no voltage regulator?

Thanks so much guys. Sorry, got home late from work and could not get a picture from my buddy. I can tell you his is not original, it is # 1105045 66A.

Thanks again for taking the time to help.

Doug

That part number is for an internally regulated alternator. (12SI)

[Gene M.]

Re: 66 BB Vette, no voltage regulator?

Connections are easy on the SI unit in place of 10DN. White wire is on Alternator #1. Blue wire is on Alternator #2. On the regulator connector jumper the Red to the Blue and jumper the Brown or Black /Pink stripe to the White. Connect the ground and in my case I added a weave ground strap between the alternator and engine ground strap. You can leave the original voltage regulator in place for easy remounting of the original 10DN alternator for judging. Half hour at best total swap including ground strap. I made an easy adapter for the ground wire because the original harness does not fit the 5/16 thread on the SI unit.

[Wayne M.]

Re: 66 BB Vette, no voltage regulator?

.. and the T.I. regulators look so neat !



z

[Douglas C.]

Re: 66 BB Vette, no voltage regulator?

Thanks again guys. I think my buddy will find an original Alternator and regulator, get a proper harness as the car is real nice. And is the correct mounting the 3 holes on the driver side inner fender liner area, like the picture above near the horn relay? Tks. Doug

[Joe L.]

Re: 66 BB Vette, no voltage regulator?

That part number is for an internally regulated alternator. (12SI)

Leif-------


Yes, it's from about the 1983-84 period but I can't find the original application.

[Bill L.]

Re: 66 BB Vette, no voltage regulator?

Thanks again guys. I think my buddy will find an original Alternator and regulator, get a proper harness as the car is real nice. And is the correct mounting the 3 holes on the driver side inner fender liner area, like the picture above near the horn relay? Tks. Doug

Doug:

No the correct mounting area is further back on the other side of the inner fender opening. There should be three holes in the inner fender in the area to mount the voltage regulator correctly. See the photo:



Hope this helps a bit....

Regards
Bill