Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Where should the needle on the dashboard gauge for the generator be? At 1/2 or more like 3/4 or above. If my generator is weak where can I get a rebuild kit for it.

After a fairly short period of driving after a start the needle should be right in the middle or just slightly to the charge side. Right after a start or other heavy electrical drain the needle should show perhaps halfway up the charge side while he engine is revving. At a slow idle the needle will show a discharge.

NAPA carries the brush set and bearing/bushing as individual items. But the generator may need a more comprehensive service, armature cleaned and perhaps the commutator lathe-cut and the mica undercut, etc. If it's not performing as Ross indicated, perhaps you should have it serviced by a generator/alternator shop. And also consider that the generator regulator, also available at NAPA, may be suspect.

If your not into original. Go to auto zone get a 1 wire alternator. Lifetime replacement.

You will need a bracket. I like mine. Needle is always on right side dot with lights on in gear.

Delco upper left. Right KEM. Bottom carquest.

Carquest. The resistors are marked 60 and 75.

Are those the problem. Cause windings don't look burned.

Kem i had on my engine. Till charging quit.

Delco is off another car. Direct short.

Carquest did not work. It's a pos or neg regulator.

Be nice if you could replace resistors.

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Boy, is this feed striking close to home! Whereas your 400 has a voltage indicator, my Clipper has an idiot light and someone in the past inadvertently rigged the generator light to the brake light and (I assume) vice versa.

Although I did not get a clear indication of a problem, my battery kept running down, so I decided to have the generator checked. Turns out it was shot and had to be rebuilt. The company that did it also checked the voltage regulator as well, which was OK.

The wires coming off the generator were discolored and I had to guess which wad which when I reattached them to the regulator. I polarized the generator and thought everything was copacetic, but I found out the hard was how wrong I was. After checking the wiring again, everything is OK and the battery is getting charged as it should.

I had a talk with Ross Miller in Maryland about switching to an alternator. He told me there is nothing wrong with a generator and unless you are trying to power an air conditioner or some other high-power accessory, a generator should just fine. When everything is set up the way it should be, you shouldn't have any more trouble. As for your gauges, I heard there are aftermarket meters that correctly indicate voltage.

Somehow hundreds of millions of cars worked just fine running with generators. And believe it or not both 6V and 12 V Packards, Cadillacs, Oldsmobiles, Buicks, Lincolns etc actually had air conditioning....and they ran fine also.

Alternators have their advantages but so do 350" Chevy v8's.

Keep it simple

M bumble

I use this. With my meter..have it hooked up to ignition switch acc side. With alt. It's at 14.5 v.constant. with the generator it would swing. Up and down. With rpms. Which i guess was regulator getting ready to blow.

One thing with alt. Number 2 spark plug is wide open..

I agree with ross.

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MrBumble Quote:

I agree, but on my Panther I will have aftermarket A/C and an aftermarket stereo, so I'll be using an alternator (140amp, 1 wire) on a custom bracket. Of course there's no regulator and I'll have a voltage gauge hidden in the glove box. I'll have pictures on my website in a few months.

BTW, my 55 Pat has a generator, regulator and the stock ammeter in the instrument cluster. All works fine.

Craig