78 SB alternator swap, fan housing issues

Ah. The 4 bolts (nuts) "around the alternator" don't come out. They hold the "oil stand" to the engine, if I'm reading you right.

For the thermostat, see this:

it may have been removed. Now, look for a narrow (3/4"?) sheet metal strap looping over the top of the alternator body. This strap anchors the alternator to the oil stand. Remove the strap or just slide it back and the fan shroud should now lift off.

Hopefully, this will do the trick.

Speedy Jim

He might be referring to the four bolts holding the generator/fan assy. to the fan housing? If so, those does not need to come off until the complete shroud with generator is removed.

J.

fan housing?

generator is removed.

That's what I thought too.

For the thermostat, I seem to remember that the fuel injected models don't have one. Temperature is managed by the ECU by way of adjusting mixture and timing? I could be wrong.

I seem to remember that as well.

J.

o the fan housing?

erator is removed.

Thanks for all your help, it once I removed the strap the housing attached to the alternator came off with just a little wiggling. I'd been trying to remove the housing not realizing it came off attached to the generator. That makes the bolt removal much easier.

Follow up question though, I took the bad alternator in to get a replacement at my local parts store (Advance/Autozone etc.), and was told that it wasn't an alternator, but rather a generator. On their computer system, it lists the same part as both an alternator and a generator.

I'm reasonably certain its an alternator considering the late model year and the descriptions I've read on other posts, but I wanted to be certain before I bought something incorrect. The part number on the original alternator is mostly rubbed away. Didn't I read something about there being an internal regulator in the old alternators? I think the missing external regulator is what is giving confusion.

Thanks again for your help, nothing teaches like experience.

Jerry

the fan housing?

generator is removed.

It's a quirk of their parts database. Generators have a frame which is a cylinder and the same diameter the full length. Alternators have a larger diameter at the pulley end to accommodate the "guts". Alternators typically have one stud terminal, marked B+ and one spade terminal, D+.

All (US) Beetles since mid '73 have had an alternator.

Speedy Jim

John C. at aircooled.net is an honest person. You can e-mail them for parts questions. Here is a link form their site about charging system parts.

You will be a lot better off buying from aircooled.net than Auto Zone or Advance Auto.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > > >>> snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com wrote:

. to the fan housing?

generator is removed.

Jerry, just to add to what Speedy said, there are also alternators with a 3 prong connector on them that go to an external regulator, I believe your year has that type, is there a round white plug with 3 prongs? If so I have a brand new one for sale cheap.

/volks/schem/altreg.gif

This is not my ad but it is the exact part number I have:

I second that.