90, 117, 120, and 136 amp alternators

[gcam]

something interesting came up in my conversation with the parts guy at Forest Lawn auto parts here in Calgary. I'm having problems getting my new alternator to fit (see my other post).

this guy told me that the 120 amp alternator offered on Jeeps as an option was actually the same unit sold as a 136 amp alternator on dodge vehicles.

He also told me that my 1996 XJ would have come from the factory with a 117 amp alternator, which I've never heard off before. He had the part number for it, and it was cross listed with the 90 amp Nippo alternator we all know about.

Geoff

 

[lilredwagn]

From my parts catalog:

5600 5685 XJ,YJ,Z 90 Amp.
5602 6936 1 XJ,X1 90 Amp. (RHD or EUROPE)
5602 6811 1 X1 117 Amp.
5600 5686 ZJ 136 Amp.

According to the catalog, an X1 is a "cherokee", whereas an XJ is a "cherokee SE", "cherokee sport", or "cherokee country". I suspect that means that the X1 was the "fleet" cherokee and never actually saw the inside of a showroom, but that's speculation on my part.

I went to the yard a couple weeks ago to pick up a 136 amp alternator, and I had the part number 56027913 from BC4x4.com. I just went to the yard with that number in mind, rather than looking at the parts catalogs, and was rather annoyed to find that they had several "136 amp" alternators under the exchange with the Grand Cherokee, Ram, Durango, etc. but none of them had the "right" number, so I wasn't going to buy them. Fortunately the kid behind the counter was very helpful and friendly, and took me back so we could look through all the alternators. On the 4th try, we found one 56027913, which I believe was out of a 97 Durango.

Since BC4x4 didn't have a fitment problem with that part number, I'm crossing my fingers that the different part numbers had different bracketry, and that 56027913 is the "correct" alternator, and that everyone else who has had problems has purchased a 136 amp with a different part number.

It'll probably be awhile before I test that theory out though.

 

[CartsXJ]

to get a dodge 136amp alt to fit, you need to remove the alt bracket from the engine and grind some of the casting to fit. Once you take the bracket off you will see what I mean. Very simple and one of the better mods I've done since the winch got put on the front.