Installing Quest 110A Alternator in s13/KA24DE (link??)

[MELLO*SOS]

** EDIT: READ BELOW FOR NOTES AND LINKS IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS UPGRADE! **

Edit: 11-26-2007 No problems to date... Dunno if I wrote about it here though, but check out the alternator pulley and make sure it doesn't rub on your radiator hose. I had that problem like a year ago maybe... It ended up slicing thru the hose and running me out of coolant :( woops... I just keep it ziptied away from the pulley now... Other than that, no problems at all from this upgrade, just do it!! If you have some questions, just bump this thread instead of PMing me!

Edit: 1-12-2007 Well I have been running the Quest 110a altynator for over a year with NO PROBLEMS. It seems to have kept the battery charged up adequately, I've never had an electrical issue that I can pin the blame on this alt swap. However, because I have it underdriven (crank pulley), the output is almost identical to that of a stock alternator. Furthermore, I suspect at idle that it may even have slightly less output (My DMM can't measure current this high). The reason I say this is that at idle, if you put your foot on the brake, the slight current draw to light up the brake lights is enough to dip the RPM by 50 or so! Also, if you turn on one of the blinkers, the current draw carries through to the idle 700->680->700->680.. This may just be caused by my stockish battery going out, but I think for you to get the most out of this swap you shouldn't underdrive the alternator. 110a underdriven 20% gives you 88a, while the stocker is ~80a. If you're reading this thread in search for more current -- read on and try it out! You'll be happy with the results.

Now on to my original thread:

I found a thread that mentions this swap and said it was possible with minor modifications. It goes on to say that there is/was a thread on FA about it. I searched here there and everywhere and couldn't find much info about this let alone pictures. If anyone has a link or more info they can post it would be appreciated. The alternators LOOK similar but without measuring them or having them side-by-side it's hard to tell.

FYI The Nissan Quest alternators are rated at 110A, compared to our measly 80A (90A for those with OEM foglights) units. For those running upgraded stereos and/or underdrive pulleys, installing one of these alternators may help with power issues.

Thanks for your constructive/informative replies that don't flame those who chose to upgrade their stereos and/or underdrive their accessories. :2f2f:

[Pacman]

I don't know anything about this, but if you go to an auto parts store, they'll have them in stock. Just take your 240 alternator, have them pull the Quest alternator, and compare.

[MELLO*SOS]

** EDIT: I have had the 110a alternator retrofit on my KA24DE for 4 months now with 0 problems. The link below has some good information if you want to do this yourself. It is a pretty straightforward upgrade, with minimal (minor) modifications needed to make the bigger alternator fit (Please see my notes further on in this thread). **


I did a search and couldn't find if anyone actually put a Quest alternator a KA car or not so here's the 411. It takes a little work but it will fit. It's nice if you are running a big fan, big fuel pump, an ignition booster, a/c, headlights, big stereo, etc.... It requires drilling out of the mounting holes wiith a 3/8 bit and also to enlarge electrical connector to acomodate the bigger pole. I now have 110 amp alternator vs a 80amp. Also you can't swap the pulley because the housing of the Quest alternator will rub on a KA pulley .... so I just left the the 4 rib pulley on with a 3 rib belt and have had 0 problems. Also I was able to retain the factory belt, but I have an ASP underdrive so that may differ for some of you.


Links

KA24DE 110A Alt Retrofit (http://forums.freshalloy.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB9&Number=67805299&Forum=All_Forums&Words=110a&Match=Entire%20Phrase&Searchpage=0&Limit=333&Old=allposts&Main=67804216&Search=true#Post67805299)

KA24E 110A Alt Retrofit (http://forums.nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=131961) (thanks rancid240 :bow:)

[MELLO*SOS]

I don't know anything about this, but if you go to an auto parts store, they'll have them in stock. Just take your 240 alternator, have them pull the Quest alternator, and compare.

None of my local autozones have both in stock :) Thank you though

[MELLO*SOS]

Just a few notes for any others interested in doing this upgrade... Pictures and a more complete write up will follow in the next few weeks.

My 97ish Nissan Quest (3.0L A/T) alternator came in last night. I bought it from an eBay seller for roughly $55 shipped. I laid it side by side with my stock alternator and took some notes -- pix to come.. Edit: pix will never come. Fuck they look like two Nissan alternators, okay?! :)

+ The first obvious modification needed is to drill out the two mounting holes (for the long bolt) with a 3/8" drill bit. Actually the long bolt used to attach the alternator to the block is slightly larger than 3/8" so make the hole slightly larger if you can.

+ The Quest alternator pulley is for a 4 ribbed belt yet your crank pulley and stock alternator are designed for 3 ribs. It works fine, just use a 3 rib belt.

+ Luckily the 2-prong plastic connector is an exact match for both alternators so nothing is needed here.

+ Lastly the small ring terminal on the stock alternator harness is a touch too small to slip over the Quest "output" stud. You'll need to pick up a new ring terminal from the store and crimp (dont forget solder!) it onto the alternator harness.

+ The alternator body is slightly larger, which causes it to have very little adjustable clearance once bolted to the block. You'll notice that it only has roughly 1.25" of "side to side" movement in the "slide" adjustment bracket before the body hits the tubing underneath the throttle body!

+ The "slide" tensioning bracket isn't exactly made to work with this alternator body, it's obvious because if you torque the lower timing cover bolts that hold the bracket down it will press against the alternator slide-adjustment bolt-ear and lock the alternator in place! Leave them a little loose, adjust the belt tension, then torque them down. Or if you're superman just bend your alt bracket a little and it will work fine.

+ I'm using an underdrive (ASP?) pulley and my measurements indicate I'll need a ~29.5" belt. The shortest measurement (using string method) I found as 29.5" and the longest of 30.25" -- not much room for adjustment here. I found the belt I needed at Autozone, just take them the measurement you get and they'll find you a belt that will work!

Since I am underdriving the alternator by 20%, the 110a peak output drops to ~88a peak output. This is ~8a more than the stock alternator's ~80a output with a stock crank pulley (So I acheive +10% amps output, while underdriving the alternator woohoo!). Underdriven, the stock alternator would only output an ~64a :(. Remember these numbers are peak output, around 4000-5000rpm, at idle its ridiculous like 20a or so!!

Pictures and more notes to come. Edit: If you really really want to see pictures PM me or something, I am not going to host them.

This works and works well GL and feel free to contact me if you have any questions along the way!!

[rancid240]

http://forums.nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=131961

for ka24e tho

[MELLO*SOS]

Good info there too, thanks.

Hope someone stumbles to this thread in the search of more current...

[hellion240sx]

well i guesss this is the right place to ask better than any other thread, or starting a new one. is there an upgrade for the sr 20det?

[MELLO*SOS]

I think the KA24DE alternator will work on the SR, but since I don't have an SR I can't confirm that. The only modification really needed to make the Quest alt work is to bore out one of the mounting holes to a little larger than 3/8". The alt body is slightly larger though, and you might have clearance problems resulting in limited adjustability for belt tension! With the right sized belt though it shouldn't be a problem. Sorry I can't be more help on this but if you try it be sure to update my thread!

[brokeAs240sx]

well i guesss this is the right place to ask better than any other thread, or starting a new one. is there an upgrade for the sr 20det?

Not yet, we actually tried to test it on an sr, and no matter what combination of pulleys you use for the alternator (ka, quest, sr), either the pulley will rub the alternator housing or the belts won't line up. It's only a "tiny" .25" off or so, but enough to mess up everything if you try to put it on an SR.

This was when trying to put a quest alt onto an sr20det.

[hellion240sx]

ahha, but if you can... try putting on the ka24de alt on the sr. mello would you have to use the pulleys from the ka as well? is it even worth a swaping of alts? ka -> sr ??? o yeah btw merry christmas!