Notices
General Miata Chat A place to talk about anything Miata

which alternator for 1.8 conversion

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 5, 2010 | 09:19 PM
  #1  
driftbandito's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 208
Total Cats: 0
Default which alternator for 1.8 conversion

I'm swapping a 1.8 into my 93 and need to know what alternator to use. I tried using the 1.8 alternator but the grounding strap on the 1.6 harness is to small to connect onto the 1.8 alternator. The plug fits into the 1.8 alternator however. Which alternator do I use?
Old Sep 5, 2010 | 09:39 PM
  #2  
olderguy's Avatar
AFM Crusader
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,716
Total Cats: 364
From: Wayne, NJ
Default

Unless you switched ECU's, use the 1.6 alternator
Old Sep 5, 2010 | 09:50 PM
  #3  
driftbandito's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 208
Total Cats: 0
Default

I will need to swap the 1.8 alternator pulley onto the 1.6 alternator, Correct?
Old Sep 5, 2010 | 10:18 PM
  #4  
olderguy's Avatar
AFM Crusader
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,716
Total Cats: 364
From: Wayne, NJ
Default

yes.
Old Sep 5, 2010 | 10:38 PM
  #5  
Fidgitk's Avatar
Junior Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 194
Total Cats: 11
From: Murphy, Tx
Default

I used the 1.8 alternator on my 1.6 to 1.8 swap. I drilled out the connector to fit the 1.8 alternator. Ran like that for a year and a half.
Old Sep 5, 2010 | 10:43 PM
  #6  
olderguy's Avatar
AFM Crusader
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,716
Total Cats: 364
From: Wayne, NJ
Default

It actually depends on the year of the 1.8 alternator. All 1.6 alternators had the internal voltage regulator. 1.8's(don't know the year) switched over to a voltage regulator controlled by the ECU. Check the 1.8 alternator itself to see if the voltage regulation is wired in.
Old Sep 6, 2010 | 12:57 AM
  #7  
MartinezA92's Avatar
Elite Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,784
Total Cats: 42
From: Redwood City, CA
Default

Im using my 1.6 alternator. The 1.8 alternator uses a different belt, so I'm running a 1.6 pulley on my 1.8 engine.
I'm pretty sure only NBs have the regulator in the ECU, but I might be wrong.
Old Sep 6, 2010 | 01:07 AM
  #8  
Full_Tilt_Boogie's Avatar
Elite Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,155
Total Cats: 409
From: Jacksonville, FL
Default

Im pretty sure that it was only NBs (99+) that had the alternator regulated by the ECU
Old Sep 6, 2010 | 02:45 AM
  #9  
driftbandito's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 208
Total Cats: 0
Default

I'm running a megasquirt if that helps
Old Sep 6, 2010 | 03:23 AM
  #10  
Savington's Avatar
Former Vendor
iTrader: (31)
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 15,442
Total Cats: 2,106
From: Sunnyvale, CA
Default

I would use the 1.8 alternator and drill the positive lead out a little to fit over it. If you use the 1.6 alternator, you must use the 1.6 WP pulley and the 1.6 balancer. Using the 1.6 balancer on a 1.8 might be fine, but it might be ill-advised, and we all know how important the balancer is to the health of the oil pump.

It's much easier and safer IMO to just drill the connector out.
Old Sep 6, 2010 | 03:24 AM
  #11  
EvoRoadster's Avatar
Junior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 87
Total Cats: 1
From: Oahu, Hawaii
Default

Originally Posted by Full_Tilt_Boogie
Im pretty sure that it was only NBs (99+) that had the alternator regulated by the ECU
Yup, 99 and up have the regulator controlled by the ECU.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
StratoBlue1109
Miata parts for sale/trade
21
Sep 30, 2018 01:09 PM
Quinn
Cars for sale/trade
6
Oct 23, 2016 07:58 AM
JxPhan
Meet and Greet
3
Oct 2, 2015 02:17 AM
JesseTheNoob
DIY Turbo Discussion
15
Sep 30, 2015 02:44 PM
ihiryu
General Miata Chat
9
Sep 28, 2015 10:22 AM




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:22 PM.