Calgary Jeep Association

4x4 Related Groups => Tech Talk => Topic started by: GreenMachine on February 04, 2013, 05:30:09 PM

Title: Possible alternator upgrade for my 03 Tj 4.0
Post by: GreenMachine on February 04, 2013, 05:30:09 PM
I came across a thread online while searching for upgrade alternators, someone said the alternator out of a 2001-06 Durango was a direct fit, putting out 160 amps?
Stock for my Tj from what I could find was 117,

Wondering if anyone has heard of this? Or tried it, Upgraded ones online that I have found by "Mean Green", puts out 140 amps, and it's 450 bucks plus shipping,  was thinking maybe the durango stocker might be a lot cheaper,

Any thoughts would be appreciated!
Title: Re: Possible alternator upgrade for my 03 Tj 4.0
Post by: pooljunky on February 04, 2013, 06:00:06 PM
yeah man I put a durango one for my 01 tj... works a charm.. but I had to change the pulley from the old one on the new one! was great!
Title: Re: Re: Possible alternator upgrade for my 03 Tj 4.0
Post by: wyattjo on February 04, 2013, 06:01:29 PM
Does anyone know if it bolts directly onto the xj as well?

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Title: Re: Re: Possible alternator upgrade for my 03 Tj 4.0
Post by: tubby on February 04, 2013, 06:33:27 PM
Does anyone know if it bolts directly onto the xj as well?

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Durango 5.9 alternator that is 160 Amp rated has gone into my 91 XJ and my friend's 01XJ. Some grinding of the case of the alternator body was required to make it fit. Connections are plug'n' play.
Title: Re: Re: Re: Re: Possible alternator upgrade for my 03 Tj 4.0
Post by: wyattjo on February 04, 2013, 06:40:13 PM
Durango 5.9 alternator that is 160 Amp rated has gone into my 91 XJ and my friend's 01XJ. Some grinding of the case of the alternator body was required to make it fit. Connections are plug'n' play.

Awesome thanks... I'll probably be doing this... was it on all trim levels or only ones with the 5.9

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Title: Re: Possible alternator upgrade for my 03 Tj 4.0
Post by: JackstandJohnny on February 04, 2013, 06:42:15 PM
ZJ alternators from a 98 5.9 are also 150 amp if i recall.

i think they are 200$ or something at AV
Title: Re: Possible alternator upgrade for my 03 Tj 4.0
Post by: GreenMachine on February 04, 2013, 07:19:45 PM
Thanks guys,

Grinding of the alternator case? My alternator is on top, not sure about the other models, what would it need the extra clearance from?
Title: Re: Possible alternator upgrade for my 03 Tj 4.0
Post by: specialk on February 05, 2013, 08:14:21 AM
The alternator sits low on the XJ/MJ...  just below the oil pan and diff and has a habit of getting wet.
Title: Re: Possible alternator upgrade for my 03 Tj 4.0
Post by: Bnine on February 05, 2013, 12:56:10 PM
Late model TJ's have very different bracketry, and use a completely different alternator then earlier models. Most of the swaps from durango's and such are earlier model.

Make sure the swap you are looking at is applicable to your 03 bracketry.  Most arent.
Title: Re: Possible alternator upgrade for my 03 Tj 4.0
Post by: GreenMachine on February 06, 2013, 05:35:35 AM
Has anyone tried this on a newer Tj? I cant remember which year the guy online said he had,

As I'm living in northern Ontario now, not calgary, ordering an alternator, then finding out it wouldn't fit and returning it is a lengthy process, and would rather not waste my own time, and the time of the parts shop, I'll try to do some more research myself as well.

A lot of people are mentioning the earlier years, but in the original thread, it said for an 03-06 Tj, use an 01-06 alternator from the 5.9, is it possible that the 5.9 changed? From the 98 that people had to do some custom grinding on?
Title: Re: Possible alternator upgrade for my 03 Tj 4.0
Post by: GreenMachine on February 06, 2013, 10:19:22 AM
Had a buddy at the parts place look into it a little, he said the 03 5.9 looks like the 96 Cherokee 4.0 alternator, but completely different to. My o3 Tj 4.0, I guess some of us arn't as lucky as others...

I was going to have him look into the 4.7, 5.7 ram just to see what they put out and if they would fit. But they got busy,

Any suggestions would be appreciated

Title: Re: Possible alternator upgrade for my 03 Tj 4.0
Post by: LurkinLimey on February 07, 2013, 03:15:51 AM
Hey,

I did the Durango Alt' swap on my 2006 LJ Rubicon. It was a straight swap, no need to swap pulley wheels or anything. I picked up the Alternator from Crappy Tire as they had one in stock.  There's an unused mounting point on the alternatorwhich sits very close to the coil rail, a few months after I installed the alternator I carefully cut this off with a sawsall as it was preventing me easily removing the coil rail to get to the plugs. If you require the part number let me know, if I remember correctly I got the information from this thread on Jeepforum
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f9/durango-160a-alt-swap-2002-tj-1165805/index2.html

hope that helps
Title: Re: Possible alternator upgrade for my 03 Tj 4.0
Post by: GreenMachine on February 08, 2013, 10:39:30 PM
Awesome thread, pic and everything, thanks a lot!!!