John (and Chuck)
I'm not trying to save alternator drag, I don't run one mainly because
of space problems. I have 2 1" Gilmers running off the crank and due to
a crossmember in front of the crank, there's no more room there. That
leaves the water pump pully for a drive. No room on left side of block,
but do have room on right - maybe. I would have to build a bracket
spacing the alternator out about 3 inches, and re-pully the water pump.
All do-able, just looking at alternatives. Before I went to a dry sump I
ran an alternator using a serpentine belt. That ran the water pump
backwards, but the one I use didn't know that and worked fine. That was
a very clean and simple set-up.
Ed
John Beckett wrote:
>
> Ed
>
> I have run at Bonneville both with and without an alternator. I'm
> assuming that you don't want to run the alternator for drag reasons. My
> experience is that on at least a V8 it doesen't hurt at all. And on a
> positive note probably helps more than it hurts. As an example the ignition
> really comes alive when you have an extra two volts to work with.
> And don't even bother trying to run electronic fuel injection without
> the alternator, 12 volts just won't cut it.
> Don't think you need 16 volts, 14 volts should do fine, and your
> batteries will probably last longer too.
>
> John Beckett
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ed Van Scoy <edvs@idt.net>
> To: land-speed@autox.team.net <land-speed@autox.team.net>
> Date: Wednesday, September 08, 1999 5:00 PM
> Subject: 16 Volt?
>
> >One of my problems at Speed Week was a weak battery. I don't run an
> >alternator, just a fresh-charged 12V Optima battery. Some of the 1/4
> >milers use 16 volt batteries & I was wondering if this was a good choice
> >for my Vette and would welcome opinions. The electrical components I
> >run off the battery are fuel pump, MSD and electric fan. As a side, I
> >have gone through 3 "gel" batteries in the last 7 years, coincidence?
> >Ed
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