Will an SVX alternator directly fit

[North Ursalia]

Originally Posted by svxcess

Also remember that if you use the promo code 4747 to order an alternator either online or by phone, you will get free UPS ground shipping.

Well, that pushed me over the edge - just ordered a HO alternator from them.

[svxcess]

Originally Posted by North Ursalia

Well, that pushed me over the edge - just ordered a HO alternator from them.

You will be one happy guy. Makes all the difference. Be sure to do the "big 3" wiring modification. If you are not sure what that is, here are the basics

Remember, you are only ADDING wires to those already in place. You are not replacing anything. There are only 3 wires to add:

1 ADD a 4 gauge wire from the positive lug on the alternator to the positive terminal of the battery. (the lug is under the black rubber boot at the left rear of the alternator).

2 ADD a 4 gauge ground wire from the air conditioning compressor mounting bolt to the negative terminal of the battery.

3 ADD another ground wire from the negative terminal of the battery to chassis ground. (You will see a small black ground wire coming off of the negative post of the battery and attaching to the body in front of the battery.) ADD the 4 gauge wire to the existing wire at this mounting point or a new connection anywhere close by.


That's it! Now there is ample current flow from the alternator to the battery. (The alternator case is its own ground) The engine is now solidly grounded to the battery and the battery is solidly grounded to the chassis. You should pick up a minimum of 2 volts.







For safety, I highly recommend installing a Littlefuse Mega Fuse in the power cable, as close to the battery as possible. See HERE for an explanation and photos. (This wiring mod shows a different configuration that was developed, but the basic big 3 wires with fuse are shown)


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[North Ursalia]

I had seen the versions of the alternator wiring mod for the SVX (I have similar ones done to my fleet of Imprezas)- I got this in the hopes that it would cure the low voltage at idle I get when running the 9005 swap headlights and fogs at the same time, plus it's just an added safeguard. Based on how the rest of this car was treated, I doubt it has ever gotten much attention to the charging system, and it is getting the grounds and terminals all cleaned and updated when the alternator goes in .

[svxcess]

With my high-output alternator, I still noticed that may voltage was somewhat low at idle (but much improved over stock). Talking to Maniac Electric, I found out that their output was based upon a 750-800 rpm figure. (Our cars idle quite low) If you raise your idle about 100rpm, it jumps up dramatically. Rather than use the gas pedal at idle to achieve this, I decided to just tighten the throttle cables a bit to increase the rpm about 100rpm higher

No problem when starting from cold (idle is about 14.3-14.4 V) Once fully warmed it idles at about 13.5V.



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[North Ursalia]

Good to know- I am idling rather high and variably right now (between 800 and 2000 rpm when cold) I think due to a sticky IAC; just one more thing on the list to fix after the airbox, speedo, NSS, backup light switch, and all the oil leaks .

[svxfiles]

Originally Posted by svxcess

You will be onebla, bla, bla, happy guy.



HERE )

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Oh, come on!
Look at that engine!
No one has an engine that clean!















Oh, wait. it's Johns engine............................

[North Ursalia]

Mine is NOWHERE near that clean thanks to 18 years in New England

[svxfiles]

Originally Posted by North Ursalia

Mine is NOWHERE near that clean thanks to 18 years in New England

Yea, but yours is a Pearlie!







And as soon as you can pry that barnacle off of the left fender the better!

[svxcess]

Originally Posted by svxfiles

Oh, come on!
Look at that engine!
No one has an engine that clean!






Oh, wait. it's Johns engine............................

Don't forget about Harry. Mine may be a little prettier and shinier, but when it cones to CLEAN I have to pass that crown to newsvx. Never ceases to amaze me. Authentic and factory-fresh in every way.





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[North Ursalia]

And as soon as you can pry that barnacle off of the left fender the better!

There's one of those hemorrhoids on the right fender too- fake vents in fake CF like all the other fake CF stuck on the car (MAF, shift knob, whole center console- ugh). I had to resort to painting the interior trim as it was a combination of the dark burl, light burl, and gray interior pieces, many covered in CF sticker that ruined the finish. Oh well, even the painted trim looks better than fake CF, and it's a sort of close match to the gray escaine ultrasuede.

[LetItSnow]

Has anyone made any legit measurements of the offset? I'd love to grab an alternator right from the local parts shop instead of waiting for some unique piece to arrive from the other side of the state. Fabricating a custom bracket would surely be possible.

[davew833]

I ran an SVX alternator in my '95 Legacy 2.2 for a week or so-- there's definitely an offset but it never spit the belt off.

[icingdeath88]

Which direction is the offset?

[davew833]

Oh wow- that was 4 years ago. Can't say that I remember now.

[Hocrest]

From memory it is about 3/4" off, I'm guessing it is the same difference as there is in the width of the cam belt and the cam idler pulleys.