| Author | Message | ||
| Vincent (Vincent348)
Member Username: Vincent348 Post Number: 292 Registered: 4-2003 |
how about a chewbacca (sp?) in a Ferrari! I think that would be much rarer and cooler. There were so many sacrificial storm troopers. | ||
| Drstranglove (Drstranglove)
Member Username: Drstranglove Post Number: 321 Registered: 4-2003 |
Hey, you guys know you want one!!!! DrS | ||
| philip (Fanatic1)
Junior Member Username: Fanatic1 Post Number: 215 Registered: 2-2003 |
Glad to hear it............Of course, when you walked in there with the Storm Trooper outfit on, they probably had to do what you requested......they didn't want to be the next target of the Death Star. | ||
| Drstranglove (Drstranglove)
Member Username: Drstranglove Post Number: 299 Registered: 4-2003 |
Guys I am happy to report that Ferrari of Atlanta is taking charge (he!) of the situation and is arraigning for a shop in GB, NC to come and get the car, fix it, re do the inspection and then bring it back home. After all is said and done, I am currently VERY impressed with FoA's service after the sale. (Good thing too, my brother wants a 360.) DrS | ||
| bob snow (Resnow)
Junior Member Username: Resnow Post Number: 89 Registered: 5-2001 |
One thing to watch out for is the number of wires in the cable from the alternator connector. There are several variants among the Delcos. When I replaced/upgraded mine, I went with a single wire model, even though there is no longer a connection to the red instrument panel light. I installed a voltmeter which gives a much better indication of performance than a red idiot light. | ||
| Arnaldo Torres (Caribe)
Member Username: Caribe Post Number: 478 Registered: 2-2001 |
You might want to take it to a few Alternator Repair shops. They might be able to advise you of a suitable replacement. The alternator on the TR is also a Delco ($170.00 new). An alternator is a very simple device. If you can match the specifications, the car wont know the difference. | ||
| philip (Fanatic1)
Junior Member Username: Fanatic1 Post Number: 214 Registered: 2-2003 |
So since this is a Nippon....alternator and not the Delco....(the car being a 94) does that mean that the alternator cannot be bought for less than 1500.00.....are there any other "replacements" out there.....I liked the idea of just going to NAPA with 150.00 but is this now not possible........ | ||
| bob snow (Resnow)
Junior Member Username: Resnow Post Number: 88 Registered: 5-2001 |
Frank is correct. I just assumed your car was from the Delco era. Bob | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Intermediate Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 2291 Registered: 9-2001 |
By the way, a 1994 348 should have the ND alternator not the Delta one. | ||
| Drstranglove (Drstranglove)
Member Username: Drstranglove Post Number: 286 Registered: 4-2003 |
This thing is a pain in the butt to get to!!! I am going to loosen "C" then tighten "d" a good bit and re do "C" then fire the car up and see if that helps. If it does then I will trust it to get back to a good f-car dealer for a better look over!!! FoA even offered to have it trucked back to them.....(Damn!) Which is more than I expected to be sure. Go FoA!!!! DrS | ||
| John J Stecher (Jjstecher)
Member Username: Jjstecher Post Number: 446 Registered: 1-2002 |
If bolt D wasnt hand tight that means that the tensioner on the belt might have been loose causing it to slip on the alternator. Did you pull on the belt and see how much tension was in it? If there was a lot this could be one of your problems. If you were slipping the alternator belt you should have wore it down pretty good, at least it should be visible to the naked eye. If your car is a 94 you should not have a Delco alternator, it should be the newer model. I am not sure off hand but think they changed in 1992. | ||
| Drstranglove (Drstranglove)
Member Username: Drstranglove Post Number: 285 Registered: 4-2003 |
Quick one!!! See Jeffs diagram on the bottom. Bolt "D" was not even hand tight!!!! This can not be right could it??? DrS | ||
| Drstranglove (Drstranglove)
Member Username: Drstranglove Post Number: 283 Registered: 4-2003 |
Mine is a 1994!!!! This info is great. And I just had to really nice calls from the people at Ferrari of Atlanta. I am currently evaling the situation more and will keep every one up to date. DrS | ||
| John J Stecher (Jjstecher)
Member Username: Jjstecher Post Number: 445 Registered: 1-2002 |
Bob, any info you can give me would be great! Mine is a July 1990 348 of course with the crappy Delco but luckily enough the Bosch 2.7. I bought an alternator off a, if I remember right, 93 vette and tried to fit the internals inside the case of the Ferrari's but had no luck. Any info you can give me would be excellent! John | ||
| bob snow (Resnow)
Junior Member Username: Resnow Post Number: 87 Registered: 5-2001 |
John, This was three years ago and I'll have to do some research and e-mail you later. I got the info from two local, excellent Ferrari mechanics and bought the Delco alternator at Pep Boys actually. It was listed for a Corvette but don't remember the part number. I had a local starter/alternaor shop swap out the mechanicals then installed it without any problem. What year is your 348? Bob | ||
| John J Stecher (Jjstecher)
Member Username: Jjstecher Post Number: 444 Registered: 1-2002 |
Bob - what HD alternator did you get? I bought one and tried the same thing you are talking about but couldnt get the clearance inside the HD alternator to bolt on the old case...any info would be appreciated. | ||
| bob snow (Resnow)
Junior Member Username: Resnow Post Number: 86 Registered: 5-2001 |
What you can do is buy the HD alternator with wrong mounting points then change out the front section from the old alternator to make it fit. I did this on my third alternator removal after failures every three months and I have not had a problem with the rebuilt Delco for three+ years now. And Drstrangelove, yes, removing the battery ground disconnect plug will do the same thing. | ||
| John J Stecher (Jjstecher)
Member Username: Jjstecher Post Number: 443 Registered: 1-2002 |
Also I tried like hell to find a cross reference part that put out more amperage but there are none available that have the same mounting points as the original, thus the Cameros alternator will not work on this beast. I went through 129 models at NAPA for 3 hours when mine went bad and the ONLY one that had the same mounting points was the 13-4553. If you pull your alternator and take it apart you can actually see the same number inside the casing. | ||
| John J Stecher (Jjstecher)
Member Username: Jjstecher Post Number: 442 Registered: 1-2002 |
If you alternator is a Delco one (ie early 348's) it is NAPA part number 13-4553. I just did mine last fall and am staring at the reciept right now. It ran me $144.00 and comes with a life time replacement deal. To me this was much more sane then throwing on the Nippendemoso (sp) unit for almost $1500. It only takes about an hour after you have the car jacked to get the old alternator out and put the new one in. For all of those interested the alternator is actually the same one out of an Eagle Premier! Good old Ferrari giving us the highest quality parts! | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Intermediate Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 2286 Registered: 9-2001 |
The alt. ground strap is a large gauge wire that connects the alt. to the car's frame. | ||
| Drstranglove (Drstranglove)
Member Username: Drstranglove Post Number: 265 Registered: 4-2003 |
What does the ground strap onthe alt look like? DrS | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Intermediate Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 2284 Registered: 9-2001 |
How do you know that it is the alternator itself ? On my ex-348 I had a faulty grounding strap on my alternator that gave the same indications as a faulty alternator. | ||
| Julian Pham (Julian_blk348)
Junior Member Username: Julian_blk348 Post Number: 121 Registered: 4-2001 |
DrS, A friend of mine told me that the 92-94 Chevy Camero Z-28 had the same alternator and they do carry it at AutoZone. Your stock is 105A so if you were to rebuild, make sure it's atleast 135A (the Nippondenso is 140A). Good luck. | ||
| Drstranglove (Drstranglove)
Member Username: Drstranglove Post Number: 261 Registered: 4-2003 |
Thanks for all the great info here guys, I need a lift to get at these things I think!!!!!! Anyone know the part or model number of the Alt I should put in??? I have checked the archives and cant seem to find it... DrS | ||
| Paul Hill (348paul)
Junior Member Username: 348paul Post Number: 227 Registered: 12-2002 |
Dr, While its all off, it might be an idea to change the belts for the A/C and the alternator - I did this when I had to do the seals on the A/C compressor on my 348 - I think they are only about �6 each - a worthwhile bit of preventative maintenance!! Good Luck Paul | ||
| Drstranglove (Drstranglove)
Member Username: Drstranglove Post Number: 256 Registered: 4-2003 |
Bob, would activating the ground disconnect switch do the same thing?? Or do I need to undo the batt entire?? drs | ||
| bob snow (Resnow)
Junior Member Username: Resnow Post Number: 84 Registered: 5-2001 |
BE ABSOLUTELY SURE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY BEFORE REMOVING THE ALTERNATOR WIRING. | ||
| Jeff B. (Miltonian)
Member Username: Miltonian Post Number: 271 Registered: 12-2002 |
Vincent: These pix are from my photocopy of the Factory Workshop Manual, purchased from Italian Car Parts in Oregon. You see the Shop Manuals on ebay pretty often. Originals are quite spendy, photocopies are not TOO bad, they are also apparently available on disc. But it's really not a very good manual (my opinion). My 348 does not have the suspension upgrade or the wheel spacers. I'm not really brave enough or skillful enough to drive it fast enough to care. | ||
| Vincent (Vincent348)
Member Username: Vincent348 Post Number: 267 Registered: 4-2003 |
Jeff, Just thought of one more question. Where do these pictures come from? I'm trying to locate a maintenance manual, something a little more detailed than the owner's manual. V | ||
| Vincent (Vincent348)
Member Username: Vincent348 Post Number: 266 Registered: 4-2003 |
Jeff, One more thing. Yours is a 90- does it have the suspension upgrade the 93 and on have or the wheel spacers? I'm looking into getting those (spacers) from Koenig. | ||
| Vincent (Vincent348)
Member Username: Vincent348 Post Number: 265 Registered: 4-2003 |
Jeff, I think you're right. In all other cars and equipment I've always made sure that the belt is tight enough. My rims came that way too. | ||
| Jeff B. (Miltonian)
Member Username: Miltonian Post Number: 270 Registered: 12-2002 |
"How do you know when you have enough tension on the belt?" Good question! And the answer is: with a STAEGER tensiometer, according to the shop manual. I just adjusted it until it felt right. There is very little possibility that the Dr's problem is a loose belt unless the tensioner bolts have come loose (not likely). That big wide ribbed belt is only driving the alternator, hardly any load on it. As far as my wheels, I wish someday someone would give a definitive answer as to whether or not the chromed wheels were a factory option. I think not. They were on the car when I bought it three years ago.  | ||
| Vincent (Vincent348)
Member Username: Vincent348 Post Number: 264 Registered: 4-2003 |
Jeff, Nice picture in your profile. Are those wheels stock? Mine are chromed as well and I've gotten conflicting reports on their origin. | ||
| Vincent (Vincent348)
Member Username: Vincent348 Post Number: 263 Registered: 4-2003 |
Jeff, how do you know when you have enough tension on the belt? Could it be possible that the Dr. is having belt slippage resulting in poor output from the alternator? Dr. have you checked you belt? | ||
| Jeff B. (Miltonian)
Member Username: Miltonian Post Number: 268 Registered: 12-2002 |
If you have a Delco Alternator (up to 1992?) it can easily be rebuilt by any reputable electric shop for less than $100. Parts are standard. I pulled mine out pretty easily, took it into the shop, didn't tell them it was from a Ferrari until they had finished with it. If you loosen nut "C" and back off bolt "D", it releases tension on the belt, then you just pull out the mounting bolts and undo the wiring connector. Easy. Really should replace the belt at the same time. Don't know if the procedure is identical with the Nippon Denso alternator, but it's probably very similar.  | ||
| Drstranglove (Drstranglove)
Junior Member Username: Drstranglove Post Number: 250 Registered: 4-2003 |
Ooooooooo...... Thanks!!!!! Now I need to find one!!!! DrS | ||
| Vincent (Vincent348)
Member Username: Vincent348 Post Number: 258 Registered: 4-2003 |
Dr. Try, Search, 348 Alternator. You will find it most interesting. Part #s etc. | ||
| Drstranglove (Drstranglove)
Junior Member Username: Drstranglove Post Number: 249 Registered: 4-2003 |
So the Alt is a common item and any major repair shop should have one, right? In the other thread someone said it was a delco... DrS | ||
| Vincent (Vincent348)
Member Username: Vincent348 Post Number: 257 Registered: 4-2003 |
The alternator is right about 8" off the ground and to the left of the engine (when looking towards the front of the car). Either hire someone really thin, or jack up the car to get to it. You may have to remove a plate to get there. I haven't a real close look so I'm not sure about how you get the belt off, but I assume if it's anything like other cars...wait it's a ferrari so I might be strectching things...that you can loosen a bolt which allows you to move tha alternator towards the engine and slide of the belt. Then remove other bolts and take it out. Never done it myself on a Ferrari, but it is a pretty tried and true method. I think... | ||
| Drstranglove (Drstranglove)
Junior Member Username: Drstranglove Post Number: 248 Registered: 4-2003 |
Thanks!!! Oh and how do you get to it??? I need to rebuild mine. DrS |