Alternator swap info

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Tonyrodz

Resident Resident
Joined
Feb 16, 2012
Posts
31,719
Reaction score
47,470
Location
Central Jersey
Are those 160amp only found on Special Service Vehicles? Thought I read somewhere, an alternator out of a HD 2500 was plug and play but with a different belt size.
In my case I just lucked out. Went to the parts store and it was the same price as the 130 amp. Nice little upgrade, especially if you're running some extra electrical equipment.
 
OP
OP
CdnDenali

CdnDenali

Member
Joined
Apr 23, 2010
Posts
61
Reaction score
16
those HD's with 6L or diesel engines?
My '05 Denali with a 6.0L came from the factory with a 160amp. As far as I know I have the same LQ4 engine that was installed in the HD 2500s.
 

mals

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2016
Posts
332
Reaction score
363
Location
Western Mass
those HD's with 6L or diesel engines?
I'm not quite sure what you are asking, but for the record the LQ4 is the 6.0L 8-cyl gas engine that came in the following vehicles (according to wikipedia):

LQ4 Applications (1999–2007):

Chevrolet Express / GMC Savana
Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Pickup, 3500 Pickup / GMC Sierra 2500 HD Pickup, 3500 Pickup, 1500HD Crew Cab Denali
Chevrolet Suburban / GMC Yukon XL Denali
Hummer H2 SUT
GMC Yukon Denali

I don't know if all LQ4s came with 160amp alternators, but if you're pulling one in a salvage yard you can look for the KW1 RPO code in the glovebox.
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
CdnDenali

CdnDenali

Member
Joined
Apr 23, 2010
Posts
61
Reaction score
16
I always thought HD's only came equipped with diesel engines only, thanks for the clarification mals. So I guess any HD of the same generataion/engine will work
 
OP
OP
CdnDenali

CdnDenali

Member
Joined
Apr 23, 2010
Posts
61
Reaction score
16
Hey mals, I believe yours is a 2pin Alternator plug? Mine is a 4pin plug.
 
OP
OP
CdnDenali

CdnDenali

Member
Joined
Apr 23, 2010
Posts
61
Reaction score
16
OK figured it out, since '05 & '06 is a 2pin connector, its just figuring out which/what wire is what via the IMG_0879.JPG service manual/schematic. Disconnected my 4pin plug which is really a 2 wire, either make an adapter so you can go either way or remove wires from 4pin connector and put in place a 2pin connector... Now you can have a 160amp alternator equipped with a 2pin connector.
 

SlimJim

Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2016
Posts
41
Reaction score
5
Did this actually work or did it through alternator into default mode at 13 volts?

QUOTE="CdnDenali, post: 1103971, member: 5757"]OK figured it out, since '05 & '06 is a 2pin connector, its just figuring out which/what wire is what via the View attachment 80510 service manual/schematic. Disconnected my 4pin plug which is really a 2 wire, either make an adapter so you can go either way or remove wires from 4pin connector and put in place a 2pin connector... Now you can have a 160amp alternator equipped with a 2pin connector.[/QUOTE]
 

exp500

Full Access Member
Joined
May 14, 2017
Posts
1,865
Reaction score
1,722
My recommendation is stay Plug N play. No adapter harness. There are a few different ways this can be done- Correct OEM or aftermarket. Several OEM applications work reclocking, but why bother with that since correct clock is available.
The trick is figureing out Exactly what you have- Not just itsa cs130 or such. Truck config matters too- where do the wires go? And why. Lastly what are your Amp needs?
 

Forum statistics

Threads
132,793
Posts
1,874,324
Members
97,636
Latest member
19burb

Latest posts

Top