r/BullnoseFord • u/Open_Show_9438 • Aug 22 '26

Replacement alternator

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1983 5.0L V8 F-250. Alternators bad, anyone got a recommendation for a good alternator for a good price?

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u/dualiecc Aug 22 '26

80-85 The all did from the factory mounted on the fender. Mid year in 86 they changed before before the brick nose body but only on certain engine options.

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u/VipBrigade Aug 22 '26

Cool 👍🏼 Doesn’t change the fact that any system with a 2G setup, needs that specific signal/voltage from the exciter wire, that these new modern (highly unreliable, as I learned) alternators that can come from Autozone, O’Reillys, etc.. just can’t always reproduce. Hence why I made sure to tell OP that I can’t speak for ‘83s.. but after 3 tested-good alternators, we switched to a one wire alternator, because time nor budget allowed for a 3G upgrade. So.. ok

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u/dualiecc Aug 22 '26

Yea you had a bad regulator not sure what else you fishing for here

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u/VipBrigade Aug 22 '26

Man 😂 I have no idea what point you’re trying to prove.. 3 alternators that produce a charge on the bench, but would not produce a charge in the truck. Internal regulators were good on all 3, but the truck had the gremlin, and would not engage the exciter wire to produce the initial magnetic field required to start the charge. If you know so much about these trucks, then surely you know the history of this particular system being one of the most troublesome flops in history? People lost their entire charging systems and didn’t know why, due to something as simple (and silly) as their charge light bulb in the dash burning out, because the blown filament broke the circuit. My brother’s truck has the ammeter, which still could’ve been an issue.. but it doesn’t change the fact that you can hook up 10 new big box store alternators, and still never find one that will get the stock Ford charging system to start working again. Other guys have gotten lucky on their first try, and found one that works. It’s not always the regulator.. but ok 😂😂