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Old 08-02-2016, 11:27 AM   #1
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 340
Year: 2003
Chassis: E-450
Engine: 7.3 Turbo
Best alternator for ford e450 7.3

As an older thread of mine discussed, our batteries got hooked up backwards which ended up frying the alternator. A truck shop nearby has the bus and is offering to put a new one in with a lifetime warranty for $300. Amp output will be 130 on what they would put on.

Does anyone have experience with alternators for e450s? Any suggestions are appreciated, including where to buy, what model and whether or not I should just have them do it.

Ebay seems to have some decent options that would save me $140-$160...

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Old 08-02-2016, 12:17 PM   #2
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Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Cuyahoga Falls Ohio
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Year: 1997
Coachwork: Startrans
Chassis: Ford e-350 single wheel
Engine: 5.4 litre
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Do Not Buy a POWERMASTER . I bought 2 of them and they both burned up. Powermaster will not stand by their warrantee. I then bought a cheap autozone alternator which worked flawlessly for a year until I sold the vehicle. Yes, I'm still pissed about this....Been 4 years now.
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Old 08-02-2016, 07:48 PM   #3
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Location: Moodus, Ct.
Posts: 1,062
Year: 1996
Coachwork: Champion
Chassis: Ford e-450
Engine: 7.3 Powerstroke
Rated Cap: 14
I think 130-140 amps is the stock output. I just had to change mine out. (Its the only thing you can access under the hood.) Pretty easy to change.
I was out of town-got an Autozone one for $150.
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Old 08-02-2016, 08:47 PM   #4
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 340
Year: 2003
Chassis: E-450
Engine: 7.3 Turbo
Autozone would be convenient. I want to get this over with, because as soon as I'm done with that I just need 4 tires and it'll be inspected and fully road ready (minus the whole conversion hahaha).

I'll definitely avoid powermaster, thanks for the tip!
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Old 08-02-2016, 09:59 PM   #5
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Farmington Hills, Mi (Detroit area)
Posts: 1,968
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Eldorado Aerotech 24'
Chassis: Ford E-450 Cutaway Bus
Engine: 7.3L Powerstroke
Rated Cap: 19
I went with a 130amp Autozone alternator as well. Three years down the road it's still working well.

To replace it you remove the air filter cowl then use a 1/2" breaker bar on the belt tensioner to un-tension the serpentine belt. If memory serves there are three bolts holding the alt to the block. As Sdwarf said, not a hard job.

Make sure your new one has the proper pulley before turning in the core. I had to swap the pulley from the old one to the new.
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Old 08-03-2016, 08:21 AM   #6
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Location: Columbus Ohio
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Year: 1991
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Engine: DTA360 / MT643
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I use Bosch on mine.. Bosch makes a series of alternators specificallty for school busses.. the SB200 is a 200 amp unit.. it mounts with the 2 "ears" like a stabdard alternator.. I dont know if your E-450 uses a pad mount or ear mount?

but you can get up to 200 amops in those and they seem to be very compact.. they use an internal fan and a standard shaft so the pullety from your current alternator would slip right on... they are also very good at low RPM.. I notice i get great output even when my bus is idling..

-Christopher
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