On May 1, 11:36*pm, wrote:
On Fri, 30 Apr 2010 05:57:53 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

I'm doing some thinking. I'm not a slave to fashion, but I am to
function. There's enough shaft space on the top of my v4's flywheel to
mount another pulley, and I'm considering mounting about a 50-75 amp
12volt alternator on an external bracket and running a belt though the
cowling. The reason why is because the meager 10 amp stator on the
engine itself jsut isn't going to cut it. I can modify the brackets so
the external alternator is independant of being under the hood with
the gas fumes. I know the 85 will suck gas anyhow, so what's a bit
extra drag?

Why not just get a spider coupler and mount it directly above the
crankshaft. Then you could lift it straight up and remove the cowling.
Less danger of finger damage too. Put a little top hat cover over it
with slots so it will breathe.
You would have to build some kind of bracket but you were doing that
anyway. Set the alternator down on studs and tighten it down with
castle nuts and cotter pins.

Greg, I'd considered a love-joy connection, but there's a lot of
alignment issues and vibration issues, plus the extra bracing etc, so
I had to rule that idea out. but I will confess it would make a
neater package. However I didn't totally strike the idea. With some
of the newer and more compact units like the 45 amp Nippon Denso
internal fan alternators that run very smooth and are at least 40%
smaller than the old Delco 10-SI.