Thanx,windrider and Ken...Bottom line: the higher amperage alt. won't help or hurt my situation. The higher output might not be such a bad thing, having the extra amps on tap, I mean.

JR

Exactly.

I like a stronger alternator, just becuase I do a lot of things with my cars most folks don't do. Jump starting, charging dead ones when no charger or outlet is available, or connecting power invertors, etc. We auto techs are like that. I won't be doing them with the C3. But most of the time I just go with stock due to availabilty and cost.

The oddity was my 61 Jeep. I put a power angle plow on it, and the little 29 amp generator would not begin to keep up. So I mounted a GM internal regulator alternator on the engine, and a second battery. I connected a switch on the dash to operate as a key on. I now had two seperate charging/electrical systems.

The original generator and battery powered the jeep. The alternator and other battery powered the power angle plow. A Ford starter solenoid and another switch let my jump either battery from the other, without getting out of my seat. One time my plow battery got too low to lift the plow from extensive use, so hit the switch, raise the plow, and went to go get some tea while it charged back up. Also one morning it would not start, hit the switch and jumped it from my seat. Away I went.

This also allowed me to use two batteries as a power supply when jump starting another car. Very effective if not a bit bizzare. It worked great, but confused many. They got over the confusion when their car started right up, and the last guy could not get it to go.

Case closed! I'm going for the higher amperage alt.
Thanks, Boss!

JR