I have been searching here and on the web for alternator upgrade for the 87 to 90 Renix 4.0, so many articles and alot of conflicting info on a better set up then the cs130 Delco alternator.......... Many articles incomplete, no pics, or just here say for us 87 to 90 Renix owners.....
I am looking to do a sticky write up if my write up is good enough for us Renix people whom have the crappy little Delco Alternator and want to do an inexpensive salvage yard upgrade for our charging systems.....
We all know about rewinds and hot rodding the cs130 with bigger end bearing and case, over drive pulley and so on, but that can get expensive in a hurry......
Alot of good write ups and info on 91 up XJs for salvage yard alternator upgrades, but info overload and flicking to this page, this link this sight and so on.....its nuts! I look at so many threads I forgot how i found it and god forbid how to find it again..... lol
My goal here is for a salvage yard alternator upgrade for the Renix that does not modify the alternator itself in anyway( grinding.cutting) so you can change it on the trail without your roll away tool box and compressor, alternator is easily available,plentiful and inexpensive...and if you decide to get a rebuilt or new one you are not hacking it up that voids the warranty......
So far this is what I have, I have a 1990 Renix, I picked up a 91 to 96? alternator bracket assembly off a 92 XJ and a cs144 altrernator off a Caddy, I looked at 30+ cs144 alternators off different GM vehicles, majority are 12 and 6 oclock mounting ears and some have a third ear around 4 oclock, caddy one is pretty much the same as the 95 5.7 Roadmaster alternator with 2 ears at 12 and 6.........
First thing I noticed is the cs144 alternator will not work with the stock Renix alternator bracket, first is its case size, no room as it hits the unibody lip, even with hacking on the unibody for clearence would end up with to much cutting and fab on the unibody which I would rather avoid, also the Renix alternator bracket postions the alternator lower then the 91 up alternator bracket, between hacking the unibody, brinding the tabs on the CS144 for belt alignment and making an extension bracket set up for the lower ear to mount to the bracket would end up with a hacked up mess..... about the only plus of the cs144 alternator is it would plug right in and charge and work as it has internal regulator like the cs130, even the stock renix plug fits....just all the physical mounting of the cs144 and hacking does not make it friendly for someone whom or does not have the time, skill or tools to make it fit or side of the road /trail alternator replacement in the future if need be...........
Second thing I tried and mocked up is to mount the cs144 on the stock 91/96 alternator bracket...... it is alot closer then the renix alternator bracket/mount to make the cs144 alternator to work, I bolted the renix alternator bracket to the 91 up alternator bracket like a mirror, the mounting points are very very close and on the same plane for the alternator ears , only problem is the 91 up mount is for the nippondenso alternator which uses 2 ears for the main mounting point and the bracket mounting point goes in between the 2 ears where the CS144 uses a one solid mount for the main mount bolt, you could rotate the cs144 so its upside down and put the thin ear up top and the main mount point on the bottom of the bracket opposite of the cs130 alternator, but you would still have to to shorton the alternator mounting points on the bracket itself and on the alternator to get proper belt alignment...... cutting the thickness of the 91 up bracket and cutting the alternator mount points would really make this set up weak....cs144 alternator weighs a good 7 pounds more then the cs130.... hate to have broken stuff far from home........
Also you would have to trim alot off the steel front alternator bracket and grind down the aluminum alternator bracket because of the bigger case size to get alternator as close to the engine as you can to get alternator mounting holes to line up on bracket.....
Grinding the aluminum bracket and trimming the steel bracket would be fine , but still have to hack and grind on the alternator which we want to avoid.....
Also would have to use the cs130 cooling fan blade , pulley and spacer on the cs144, the plastic fan blade is just to large on the cs144 to clear the steel bracket even after you trim it, would be trimmed way to much for cs 144 fan for the bracket to clear and would make to bracket weak...... fan off the cs130 is smaller in diameter, but looks like it would cool the same as the stock plastic cs144 fan and have the benifts of a steel fan that wouldnt break like the plastic one...... have to use the stock cs130 pulley and spacer to get belt aligment closer or the solid overdrive pulley with built in spacer which I have off my cs130 as the cs144 stock pulley I got spaces the belt about 1/4 inch to far out away from alternator..........
Also if you have a trans crossmember drop kit like i do for driveshaft alignment it drops the whole drive train down at a slant and the rear alternator bearing plate/case on my stock cs130 alternator set up rubs the unibody lip under hard load...... so the 91 up alternator bracket is the way to go as it moves the alternator up away from the lip.........
So what i have decided for myself on the Renix 87 to 90 Xj's with 4.0 is to use the 1991 to 1996? alternator brackets off a 4.0 to mount a Nippondenso alternator that was used on so many Chrysler vehicles............
I know would have to use an external voltage regulator, but that would be alot easier then hacking up alternators to make them fit.......... Modding mounting brackets is fine to a point, not hacking alternators is my goal.....
I found a nice kit that uses the tried and true old school Chrysler external voltage regulator and is adjustable voltage with harness kit for $54 bucks..... and would keep some what purist thinking its Chrysler stuff, but Renix Jeeps are not even Chrysler stuff...lol , just dont want to use GM or Ford External regulators, point style or solid state...the old school style Chrysler external regulator will handle quite a bit of amps and handle the heat...... better off with the voltage reg external and not in the alternator anyways from heat...... They make alot of different universal aftermarket external voltage regualtors and kits , but will stick to stuff I know works.
I would like some help on links and write ups from the 91 and up people whom have done the salavge yard Nippon alternator upgrades from Chrysler vehicles so I can put it one write up for us Renix people and 91 to 96 people.
SALVAGE YARD UPGRADES:
Level 1 upgrade for example for Renix 87 to 90 owners:
Highest output cs130 alternator install. and main charge wire upgrade.
OR Swapping guts from the correct cs130 GM high output alternator into Jeep cs130 Alternator housing.
Level 1 upgrade for 91 to 96 owner:
All bolt in with highest output Nippon Alternator and main charge wire upgrade. main fuse upgrade if needed.
Level 2 upgrade for Renix owners 87 to 90:
91 to 96 alternator bracket assembly, largest bolt in Nippondenso alternator with no grinding or modding bracket or alternator.
External Chrysler style Voltage regulator and harness install and main charge wire upgrade.
Level 2 upgrade for 91 up owners:
Bracket mods for largest Nippon Alternator, main fuse upgrade, main charge wire upgrade.
Level 3 upgrade for 87 to 90 Renix owners:
91 to 96 Alternator bracket assembly, bracket mods, largest Nippon alternator after bracket mods, Chrysler style external voltage regualtor, main charge wire upgrade.....
Basic examples above.
So my opinion and conculsion for 1987 to 1990 Jeep Renix owners on a budget like me looking for a larger alternator swap if you have extra load from aux lights etc, or just want more amps is to use a NipponDenso Chrysler alternator and external regulator.........
Installing an external regualtor is alot easier then hacking and modding on the unibody, the alternator itself, grinding the bracket to the point where it might fail, pulley alignment issues, mounting bracket issues or not having the proper fabbing tools just to install a cs144 in stock location with A/C......
Only cs144 benifit I can see is it plugs right in....lol
Well if you got this far, thanks for reading........
Please send me your Alternator upgrade links and personal opnions..
Anybody whom contrbutes will get credit where it is due........
ps: will get some pics of what I am doing soon......
Thanks!:yelclap:
I am looking to do a sticky write up if my write up is good enough for us Renix people whom have the crappy little Delco Alternator and want to do an inexpensive salvage yard upgrade for our charging systems.....
We all know about rewinds and hot rodding the cs130 with bigger end bearing and case, over drive pulley and so on, but that can get expensive in a hurry......
Alot of good write ups and info on 91 up XJs for salvage yard alternator upgrades, but info overload and flicking to this page, this link this sight and so on.....its nuts! I look at so many threads I forgot how i found it and god forbid how to find it again..... lol
My goal here is for a salvage yard alternator upgrade for the Renix that does not modify the alternator itself in anyway( grinding.cutting) so you can change it on the trail without your roll away tool box and compressor, alternator is easily available,plentiful and inexpensive...and if you decide to get a rebuilt or new one you are not hacking it up that voids the warranty......
So far this is what I have, I have a 1990 Renix, I picked up a 91 to 96? alternator bracket assembly off a 92 XJ and a cs144 altrernator off a Caddy, I looked at 30+ cs144 alternators off different GM vehicles, majority are 12 and 6 oclock mounting ears and some have a third ear around 4 oclock, caddy one is pretty much the same as the 95 5.7 Roadmaster alternator with 2 ears at 12 and 6.........
First thing I noticed is the cs144 alternator will not work with the stock Renix alternator bracket, first is its case size, no room as it hits the unibody lip, even with hacking on the unibody for clearence would end up with to much cutting and fab on the unibody which I would rather avoid, also the Renix alternator bracket postions the alternator lower then the 91 up alternator bracket, between hacking the unibody, brinding the tabs on the CS144 for belt alignment and making an extension bracket set up for the lower ear to mount to the bracket would end up with a hacked up mess..... about the only plus of the cs144 alternator is it would plug right in and charge and work as it has internal regulator like the cs130, even the stock renix plug fits....just all the physical mounting of the cs144 and hacking does not make it friendly for someone whom or does not have the time, skill or tools to make it fit or side of the road /trail alternator replacement in the future if need be...........
Second thing I tried and mocked up is to mount the cs144 on the stock 91/96 alternator bracket...... it is alot closer then the renix alternator bracket/mount to make the cs144 alternator to work, I bolted the renix alternator bracket to the 91 up alternator bracket like a mirror, the mounting points are very very close and on the same plane for the alternator ears , only problem is the 91 up mount is for the nippondenso alternator which uses 2 ears for the main mounting point and the bracket mounting point goes in between the 2 ears where the CS144 uses a one solid mount for the main mount bolt, you could rotate the cs144 so its upside down and put the thin ear up top and the main mount point on the bottom of the bracket opposite of the cs130 alternator, but you would still have to to shorton the alternator mounting points on the bracket itself and on the alternator to get proper belt alignment...... cutting the thickness of the 91 up bracket and cutting the alternator mount points would really make this set up weak....cs144 alternator weighs a good 7 pounds more then the cs130.... hate to have broken stuff far from home........
Also you would have to trim alot off the steel front alternator bracket and grind down the aluminum alternator bracket because of the bigger case size to get alternator as close to the engine as you can to get alternator mounting holes to line up on bracket.....
Grinding the aluminum bracket and trimming the steel bracket would be fine , but still have to hack and grind on the alternator which we want to avoid.....
Also would have to use the cs130 cooling fan blade , pulley and spacer on the cs144, the plastic fan blade is just to large on the cs144 to clear the steel bracket even after you trim it, would be trimmed way to much for cs 144 fan for the bracket to clear and would make to bracket weak...... fan off the cs130 is smaller in diameter, but looks like it would cool the same as the stock plastic cs144 fan and have the benifts of a steel fan that wouldnt break like the plastic one...... have to use the stock cs130 pulley and spacer to get belt aligment closer or the solid overdrive pulley with built in spacer which I have off my cs130 as the cs144 stock pulley I got spaces the belt about 1/4 inch to far out away from alternator..........
Also if you have a trans crossmember drop kit like i do for driveshaft alignment it drops the whole drive train down at a slant and the rear alternator bearing plate/case on my stock cs130 alternator set up rubs the unibody lip under hard load...... so the 91 up alternator bracket is the way to go as it moves the alternator up away from the lip.........
So what i have decided for myself on the Renix 87 to 90 Xj's with 4.0 is to use the 1991 to 1996? alternator brackets off a 4.0 to mount a Nippondenso alternator that was used on so many Chrysler vehicles............
I know would have to use an external voltage regulator, but that would be alot easier then hacking up alternators to make them fit.......... Modding mounting brackets is fine to a point, not hacking alternators is my goal.....
I found a nice kit that uses the tried and true old school Chrysler external voltage regulator and is adjustable voltage with harness kit for $54 bucks..... and would keep some what purist thinking its Chrysler stuff, but Renix Jeeps are not even Chrysler stuff...lol , just dont want to use GM or Ford External regulators, point style or solid state...the old school style Chrysler external regulator will handle quite a bit of amps and handle the heat...... better off with the voltage reg external and not in the alternator anyways from heat...... They make alot of different universal aftermarket external voltage regualtors and kits , but will stick to stuff I know works.
I would like some help on links and write ups from the 91 and up people whom have done the salavge yard Nippon alternator upgrades from Chrysler vehicles so I can put it one write up for us Renix people and 91 to 96 people.
SALVAGE YARD UPGRADES:
Level 1 upgrade for example for Renix 87 to 90 owners:
Highest output cs130 alternator install. and main charge wire upgrade.
OR Swapping guts from the correct cs130 GM high output alternator into Jeep cs130 Alternator housing.
Level 1 upgrade for 91 to 96 owner:
All bolt in with highest output Nippon Alternator and main charge wire upgrade. main fuse upgrade if needed.
Level 2 upgrade for Renix owners 87 to 90:
91 to 96 alternator bracket assembly, largest bolt in Nippondenso alternator with no grinding or modding bracket or alternator.
External Chrysler style Voltage regulator and harness install and main charge wire upgrade.
Level 2 upgrade for 91 up owners:
Bracket mods for largest Nippon Alternator, main fuse upgrade, main charge wire upgrade.
Level 3 upgrade for 87 to 90 Renix owners:
91 to 96 Alternator bracket assembly, bracket mods, largest Nippon alternator after bracket mods, Chrysler style external voltage regualtor, main charge wire upgrade.....
Basic examples above.
So my opinion and conculsion for 1987 to 1990 Jeep Renix owners on a budget like me looking for a larger alternator swap if you have extra load from aux lights etc, or just want more amps is to use a NipponDenso Chrysler alternator and external regulator.........
Installing an external regualtor is alot easier then hacking and modding on the unibody, the alternator itself, grinding the bracket to the point where it might fail, pulley alignment issues, mounting bracket issues or not having the proper fabbing tools just to install a cs144 in stock location with A/C......
Only cs144 benifit I can see is it plugs right in....lol
Well if you got this far, thanks for reading........
Please send me your Alternator upgrade links and personal opnions..
Anybody whom contrbutes will get credit where it is due........
ps: will get some pics of what I am doing soon......
Thanks!:yelclap:
. Hope they chime-in. That said, I also have a need to upgrade the alternator. 
30 years ago none of my vehicles had A/C, I have gotton so where I dont like the heat or can even take it anymore, I dont even venture out on the motorcycle anymore when it's hot..... gotton soft in my old age :dunno:, lived in the desert all my life........:yelclap:
