"Alternator" 115 Amp Bosch AL129X works in 123s!

[81Wagon]

As previously discussed in this thread:
55 OR 65 AMP Alternator?

The Bosch AL129X (from a late eighties/early nineties Saab) appeared usable in 123's... Important to many of us because the stock 65 amps isn't always enough in this day and age. So, I bought one off Fastlane and installed it today.


Good news first:

It fits! It puts out a good 14.4 volts as opposed to the 13.8 of the old one. No noticeable extra drag on the engine (of course, I haven't added any more electrical load on it yet...). I'm very satisfied!


So-so news second:

The electrical connections, as you can see in the pics posted in the aforementioned thread, are different than the stock alternator. There is some rewiring involved. However, you'd certainly want to rewire it anyway with some heavier gauge wire thanks to the higher amps this thing can put out.

Also, when I say "it fits"... That's true, but the mount points are actually a good half inch or so farther apart than those of the stock alternator. This isn't much of a problem, because the mount adjuster for tightening the belts has enough adjustability in it to make up for the extra half inch. However, there is a limit to that - with the new alternator in, you can barely adjust it towards the engine enough to slip the belts on. Once the belts are on, though, you can adjust it back outwards to tighten them with no trouble.


And finally the bad news:

The electrical connectors on the new alternator are in a different place than on the stock alternator. A very, very bad place if you want to keep your AC compressor manifold hose in its stock location. It is all perfectly placed to block any access to the alternator connections.

Lucky for me, as I've mentioned in this AC thread, I'm getting rid of the manifold hose on that side anyway. So out it went... not a problem for me.

But before you get all disappointed, let me say it is probably (no guarantees) possible to work around the problem without removing that AC hose if you really try (it just wasn't worth my effort since I was doing away with the hose anyway). I would suggest grinding (or cutting) off 3/8 inch of the main electric connection bolt - that's mostly where the problem was, and all that extra length isn't really necessary anyway. Second, connect your new wiring to that bolt before you install the alternator all the way in and get blocked by the AC hose.