Reman. Alternator

Does anyone know why alternators for early cars are only available as remanufactured units? Is there something that unique about it that they stopped production with the cars? Warranty or not, they just are not the same as brand new ones, and I don't want to go through the radiator R&R every year!

I'm getting the feeling it has a lot more to do with the built in regulator than anything else. How much did you pay for yours BTW? I'm suddenly in the market for one. The best deal I've found is $95 plus the core charge from Autozone's web site (but not the stores for some reason...).

Did you have a mechanic do your alternator or did you do it? Being a cheap bastard at heart I would like to do this myself, but if it's a huge pain in the ass perhaps not...

Most alternators have had internal reg's since the late seventies. Mine is fine. I think it's original. I just finished the radiator yesterday and was gazing rather pensively at the ol Delco Remy that's in there, and I just don't see any way to get it out with the radiator and fans in place. It's hard to imagine they would design it that way, maybe engineers are overly optimistic about the life span of alternators. Whenever I buy strictly by low price it always bites me in the end. When it's time I'll go to my local Delco wholesaler(Bennett Distributing) and pay whatever they ask and hope the thing lasts. Delco plug wires have lifetime warranty, who knows if the alt's do.

You CAN remove and replace the alternator without removing the radiator. Just take out the fans and there is enough room to slide the alternator across the front of the car and take it out of the engine compartment on the front driver's side...

It's not pretty, but it can be done.