[Dick Boneske]

I had a '62 Grand Prix with factory air that had an alternator vs. generator. The hood pad had a cutout to clear the alternator. The brackets/pulleys appear to be the same as the '63 big cars.

Does anyone have an idea what date and which cars got the alternators in '62?

[stevep]

Then best that I can tell you is that it was late built A/C cars that got the alternator.
But I do not know what the definition of late is!

[Pontiac62]

Originally Posted by stevep

Then best that I can tell you is that it was late built A/C cars that got the alternator.
But I do not know what the definition of late is!

My 62 GP w/factory air is an early built car, and has a generator. It appears that the A/C cars were the first to get alternators. But I have never been able to determine when that began. From what I have been able to find out, there were more factory A/C cars with alternators than generators.

I believe the alternator bracket for 62 has a different part number than the 63, but I don't know if they are physically different.

[pfilean]

1962 Pontiac Heating, Ventilating and AC manual dated Dec 1961 says generator 1102220 and never mentions an alternator. Pictures and sketches all show a generator. Of course the 1966 parts book lists alternators (and generator service number 1102223) but is not specific about when alternators are for AC applications.

But as the A/C manual only shows generators that could support the idea that they were a late production change. But again how late is late.

I think the little cut out in the hood insulation was for either generator or alternator when you had A/C. I know that for 61 it is necessary for the generator with A/C.

[389]

I can't imagine AC with a generator....

[Dick Boneske]

Packard was the first to offer a/c in 1939. GM finally offered the modern configuration in 1953. The generators had belt pulleys that provided higher generator rpm’s compared with non-a/c cars.

[stevep]

Here is a bit of generator trivia.

The 1st American car to come with an alternator as standard equipment was the 1960 Valiant and in 1960 (only) the Valiant was it's own division of Chrysler.

[stellar]

I'm not sure what all the models were that had an alternator on them in 62' but I I know Chevy also had an alternator in late model 62 cars. I have an alternator dated 2H6. August 6th 1962. When I get a chance, I'll look to see if I have anything earlier.

[cat1962]

Heres some info I have in my files

[johnta1]

Thanks for the pics.
(reminded me of my page)

I found my webpage on the Delcotron, has a few more pics.

1962 Delcotron

[Bill Hanlon]

More alternator trivia.

Summer of 1962 I was a 15 year old with a summer job at a local gas station. Got a service call from a regular customer to jump start a brand new 1962 Chevy Impala 4 door hardtop just two blocks up the street. I jumped into the station's '56 GMC 1/2 ton truck and drove up to the house where the dead battery was. The 14 year old son in the family had been sitting in the new car the previous night listening to the radio (and probably dreaming of driving it) and went back into house leaving the radio on. I pushed the car out of the garage and hooked up the jumper cables BACKWARDS. Blew the diode packs in the alternator (yes the Chevy had factory A/C). Went back to the station with my tail between my legs. Told the boss and he told me the new alternator was coming out of my paycheck. Alternator was $55. My weekly check (60 hours) was around that much after taxes. Turned out the boss "forgot" to pull the money out of the check, but I never forgot to check polarity when jumping a battery after that.