My '72 TR6 had one of the rare Delco alternators when I purchased the car
last April. The day after I picked the car up, the alternator failed. I
was unable to trace down that specific type, so I called a national chain
called Start-Mart (the biggest ad in the phone book). They looked up the
alternator by number and offered to rebuild it while I waited, and with no
appointment necessary, for $69.95. I thought, "Why not?" I drove 15 miles
to the place, but an hour after they'd removed the alternator they told me
they could not rebuild it because they didn't have the correct parts!! They
offered to send the alternator "back east" for a rebuild.
I repeat: The name of the place is START MART. I later found out that all
the locations they listed in the phone book were fakes. They had set up
telephone numbers that corresponded to different locations in the entire
urban area, but they had only one actual location.
Anyway, it's possible to have your A.C. Delco alternator rebuilt by a good
electric automotive shop for about $100. But what I ended up doing was
replacing mine with the more common, original Lucas type. This is a nice
rebuilt alternator imported from England. In Seattle, it was available
overnight from either Shuck's or Al's Auto Supply---the two most common
places in town. They just looked up my '72 TR6 on their computer, got the
correct number of the alternator and offered it to me for $79.95 with a
*lifetime guarantee*. Case closed. Moss sells what I'd guess is very
likely the same alternator for $147.45. You will have to put on a different
plug for the Lucas internal regulator.
Incidentally, Shuck's told me they'd had very good luck with these Lucas
alternators, which was why they could offer the lifetime guarantee (!)
--Phil Haldeman
- ----- Original Message -----
From: John Summers <trumpet@bellsouth.net>
To: <triumphs@autox.team.net>
Sent: 20 September 1999 01:28
Subject: TR 6 ideas
>
> I got my TR 6 back from the "mechanic" Friday after supplying him with a
> new starter from Ted Schumacher. A third of the summer wasted while he
> $)&@$^!!! around claiming to be unable to find a starter ( I got the
> first one from NAPA in one day) So far the starter is working fine.
> SO, Ted Schumacher starter, Optima battery and now the quest is on for a
> suitable AC Delco alternator with the thinking being that I may be able
> to assemble a car that's reliable and fun. Which of you knows what
> alternator I need?
> The next step will be electronic ignition,,,so be on the lookout for my
> question and have your answers ready.
> Thanks, :-)
> JS
>
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