[professor-patrick]

I'm rebuilding my 56 Chevy 210, installing a 350 small-block, and want to upgrade to an alternator (standard chevy stuff, not a 1-wire unless I need to). All the original wiring is still in place, including the wiring from the original generator. I don't plan on adding any additional electronic gadgets (don't even have a radio). What do I need to change to run an alternator - what wiring changes need to be made? Any help is appreciated - thanks.

[67 Deuce 4 Me]

Well as long as your current factory wiring is in good shape I don't see a need to change much. A 1 wire alt is the only way to go on this IMO.just mount it run a 8ga fused wire to the battery and forget it. You can a regular 10si alt on it. Run a fused 8ga wire to the back of the alt. put the larger of the 2 wires from the regulator to switched ign. or full power from the back post on the alt. The little wire is the bulb wire, you can use a bulb from the dash if there is one or just wire one in. But the 1 wire alt is the better choice.

[vicrod]

You don,t say what year your 350ci is from, so I'll give both internal and external regulator setups.

You will be glad if go with a the GM (1)- wire (internal regulator) alternator. It's the easy way.

You will need to identify the BAT. wire in your existing '56 harness. This is the heavy guage #12 wire. This will connect to the alternator stud.

If you are using a (1)- wire alternator, this is the only connection you need to make. Tape up or remove the '56 Armature and Field wires. You will not need them.

But if you have a external regulator, You need (3) wires from the alternator to the regulator. (1) #12 wire from the alternator stud to the regulator. And (2) #16 wires from the alternator to the regulator connected to the terminals as identified on the your setup.

Replace your '56 ammeter with a voltmeter and connect it to any ignition switched source.

vicrod