V8 Disco - Bosch alternator swap / compareoldpulley
5/3/07
macmanmike@optusnet.com.au
| Swapping the Magneti Marelli RUBBISH alternator to a Bosch unit |
One of the little age related things that has come up with our Disco is that the bearings on the original MM alternator have become very noisy. Generally bearing noise starts and gets worse fairly quickly leading to collapse and failure at the worst possible time. Instead of fixing the original, or buying a new one for many hundreds of dollars I decided to swap to a Bosch unit. This solves the short term problem and allows me to source parts and service for it anywhere in Australia. Take a Marelli unit into a non Rover specialist auto electrician and wait for the laughter.
I bought two second hand ones - one from a TN series Mitsubishi Magna and later, one from a 1994 Magna Verada V6. The TN Magna unit proved to be a bit too worn for my liking, and the Verada one turned out to be better in terms of mounting. Also, the Verada unit has an internal fan that means one less thing thrashing water around neat the dizzy.
Both units were sourced for under $70 in total, the TN from a wrecker and the Verada from a local Ebay vendor. I was advised that the Bosch units from various Ford Falcons would also work without too much fuss. The main thing is finding something with adequate but not excessive output in good condition with mounts that can easily be swapped.
In true form, the pully shaft diameter of the OEM pulley is NOT the same as the unversal Bosch system, so I had to find another pulley. Big thanks to the local auto elec place that had a rummage and found me something for nix!
Here's the original rubbish Marelli alternator with original pulley fitted, and the donory pulley for the new alternator. I believe it's off a VS series Holden Commodore. The original pulley OD is 62mm, and the donor one is 61mm - close enough not to worry about the error in the tacho that is driven off the alternator. |
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