by spencerforhire » Fri Apr 15, 2016 6:39 am
I'm a firm believer in having a robust charging system; no such thing as "too big". I used to build high end competition sound systems, a decent alternator was pretty well the most crucial component of the whole package. But even on the street or strip, a healthy charging system is important.
I see way too many track only drag cars with tiny or non-existent alternators; big mistake. A typical 10-sec or quicker drag car will have a big fuel pump, electric fan(s), electric water pump and an ignition box. All of these parts work more efficiently, run cooler and last longer when fed 14 volts instead of 12(or less). I see them every weekend; it's a mad scramble in the pits after every pass- Start the generator, hook up the battery charger(usually set way too high, but that's another rant), and hope they can get the thing started for the next round.
I have a 105 amp C-130 from a 1997 Cavalier on my Vega drag car- I can return to the pits after a pass, flip on the 5-minute timer that runs my fan & water pump after I shut the ignition off and walk away. I know it will start before the next round because the battery(Spiral-Cell AGM) was fully charged when I parked it. And this is with a 5" underdrive pulley on the alternator; it doesn't produce full voltage until the engine is up over 1500 RPM, but I don't have to worry about blowing it up at 7500. It also doesn't matter how long the car sits in the hauler between races; there's a big solar panel on the hauler that acts as a maintainer, charging both the car and hauler's winch/lights batteries.
The "fleet"-
72 Vega HB Drag Car -383/'Glide/9"(9.35@146.19)(5.94@117.28 1/8th)
77 Vega Estate wagon- project(someday)will have TPI305/T-5, S-10 spindles/axles
76 Vega GT- 400/4spd/9" retired from active duty(rusty)
06 Silverado 2WD ex.cab daily
03 Silverado 2WD ex.cab (retired)
06 Haulin' 20ft enclosed car transporter
06 GMC Canyon Shop truck
07 Colorado project( 5.3 4L60e swap)
99 Saturn SL1- wife's car
01 Saturn SC2- son's project
07 Saturn Ion Redline project
and 4 more Saturn "parts cars"
Note- the very act of listing all of these has made me realize I have some kind of problem.....
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