Totally Auto Alternator

[Chryco Psycho]

Factory or aftermarket radio , aftermarket could be voltage sensative , my guess is it will be fine

[1 Wild R/T]

Totally Auto is totally rad. Look at their bang-up job on my alternator. I had them do the amp upgrade.

Personally I would have liked to see the paint daub reproduced... When your core is that original I try to duplicate OE markings.....  I thought Totally Auto would be on top of stuff like that....  An alternator that works is easy, a OE looking alternator takes a little extra effort... Did you at least get your wiring clip back?   That was an exceptionally nice core, I kinda wonder if you got it back or got another core....  Date code, part number, as cast finish.....Hard to find a core that nice....

Not meaning to be to harsh just kind of a shame to do a standard rebuild on such a nice core...

[kawahonda]

Yes, I got the exact same alternator back. #s matching, date coded correct for this car. Yes, I got the clip back (restored) and the screw that came with it. he did the right thing by shipping it separately because it hangs off the alternator and would have gotten banged up in shipping.

I probably won't reproduce factory over-spray on this car. To me, that's reproducing an imperfection, but I understand there are different levels of pickiness though. Just like some will apply the trunk label crooked and some will apply it straight. Mother Mopar didn't WANT overspray on their stuff, and they didn't WANT to apply labels in a crooked manner, but that's just the level of QA that was around back then...some cars fared better than others.

My alternator needed some help. The bearing was shot, and it was very difficult to turn the pulley. The alternator in turn worked, but was noisy, and was probably causing wear to the belt.

To his defense, we talked on the phone and he discussed the options with me. He asked me if I wanted him to do a full paint restore as well, or if I wanted to leave it original as possible. I told him let's restore it!

I had a good experience with him. If you're looking for a fast turn-around time and high communication levels and low prices, look elsewhere. If you're looking for it to get done right (how you want it), are relaxed on your time frame, don't require weekly updates, and don't mind spending more money than usual, he's fantastic.

I think it's a shame to call this a "standard rebuild". A standard rebuild is taking this alternator to somewhere locally and picking it up in a week with different matching grey and non-OE correct rebuild parts. The sole reason I went with him is because of the fact that it isn't a "standard" rebuild, but done by a person that has deep mopar knowledge and knows how to reproduce them correctly, factory overspray or not.

[anlauto]

If you're looking for a fast turn-around time and high communication levels and low prices, look elsewhere. If you're looking for it to get down right (how you want it), are relaxed on your time frame, don't require weekly updates, and don't mind spending more money than usual, he's fantastic.

That's about as honest of a way of saying the guy is not fast...I love it 

[Katfish]

You missed the other 2 key selling points,
He's not much for keeping you updated and charges a lot.

Who could ask for more........

Just having fun, if you're happy, that's all that matters.

[kawahonda]

Do you guys have alternatives for OE correct restores? Maybe it could help others in the future.

[anlauto]

Jim Ridge is the only guy that does them OE correct. (that I know of)

[ratroaster]

Plum Crazy Garage (Chuck & Chris)
810-584-0039 or plumcrazygarage@charter.net
http://www.plumcrazygarage.com/

These guys do great work also.

[kawahonda]

Great! Out of interest, what would a restore alternator cost from them with an amp upgrade?

[ratroaster]

Both of there alternator restoration services start a $325.00. Not sure about the upgrade....check out the websites.
http://www.plumcrazygarage.com/alternators.html
http://www.dixierestorationparts.com/restoration-services.html

[kawahonda]

Good to know. That's roughly what totally autos pricing is, so maybe I paid the right amount.

[kawahonda]

Hooked up.

[anlauto]

Now you just have to restore the rest of the engine   

[kawahonda]

Shout out to @1wildr/t  for the lug nuts. He saved my ass, even if we have some minor sqaubles.

I'll keep this thread updated because I love to keep it factory-ified, at least on the outside.

This weekend I'll install my PS pump. I still need to figure out a pulley to get after restoring it. Too bad I didn't add any factory overspray in it. LOL.

Already I went through the effort if disassembling a reman pump in order to to keep my factory pump and casing. I'm totally not an originality guy at all... 

[1 Wild R/T]

Shout out to @1wildr/t  for the lug nuts. He saved my ass, even if we have some minor sqaubles.

I'll keep this thread updated because I love to keep it factory-ified, at least on the outside.

This weekend I'll install my PS pump. I still need to figure out a pulley to get after restoring it. Too bad I didn't add any factory overspray in it. LOL.

Already I went through the effort if disassembling a reman pump in order to to keep my factory pump and casing. I'm totally not an originality guy at all...

I see it as educational not squabbling.....   I'm waiting for others input on that P/S pump.... Not enough small blocks in my background but that don't look like the correct pump....

And the paint I'm talking about isn't overspray, it's a big orange daub around the output stud which was a visually indicator for guys on the assembly line.....