Posted October 26, 201113 yr comment_370293 Hello,My alternator has an external regulator and I was wondering if i couldconvert it to an alternator with and internal regulator ? If I can is therea major benefit to the conversion.I have done alot of research with the local auto parts dealers and some ofthem say that a 1979 280zx 2+2 is suppose to have an internal regulator and some sayexternal.I have owned the car since it was new and i am under the impression that the Factoryknows best but I wanted to make sure.alsoCould someone give me the proper procedure for removing the alternator.My car has been garaged for the last five years and I have misplaced my Chilton's manual.Any Words of Wisdom would be Greatly AppreciatedThank You,Candice Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/41179-1979-280zx-22-alternator-with-external-regulator/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
October 26, 201113 yr comment_370294 Check out: http://www.xenons130.com/reference.htmlYou can download the factory manual there. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/41179-1979-280zx-22-alternator-with-external-regulator/#findComment-370294 Share on other sites More sharing options...
October 26, 201113 yr comment_370297 If you've owned the car since it was new then the only way you should have an external regulator is if you or one of the mechanics who had worked on your car had installed one, unless there was some odd factory leftovers. Nissan went to the internal regulator in 1978. I'm no expert on the history of these cars but that would be a very odd thing to have on a 1979 car. Do you have picture?I converted to an internal regulator on a 1976 car, but in retrospect there was no real advantage gained besides availability of parts, and maybe reliability, except for the fact that the rebuilt alternators available today usually fail at the internal regulator. An external regulator might actually be more reliable unless you use Nissan-made internal alternators. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/41179-1979-280zx-22-alternator-with-external-regulator/#findComment-370297 Share on other sites More sharing options...
October 26, 201113 yr comment_370305 Welcome. As Zed Head said, your car shouldn't have an external regulator. How did you come to the conclusion that it does? Where in Calfornia are you located? Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/41179-1979-280zx-22-alternator-with-external-regulator/#findComment-370305 Share on other sites More sharing options...
October 27, 201113 yr Author comment_370350 I want to say Thank You to those who have respondedThis is a 1979 and a half 280zx 2+2 GL Special EditionMy Insurance agent told me 17 years ago there was only 156 in the U.S.I don't know if this would make a difference for the alternator.My father did the mechanical work on the car in the previous years but he has now passed awayThere are four wires coming out of the back of the alternator one is black (ground) two are white andone is green. They then join a loom that goes into a small metal box on the passenger fire wall.I live in Norco, Candice Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/41179-1979-280zx-22-alternator-with-external-regulator/#findComment-370350 Share on other sites More sharing options...
October 27, 201113 yr comment_370364 Sounds like an internally reg'd alt to me. But I think is should be one is black (ground) two are white and one is blue with that white and blue on a 'T' shaped plug. Should be the same LR160 alternator used on most 78-83 S30s, S130s, 810s, RWD Maximas, etc. Here's a link to a 1979 280ZX factory service manual: http://www.xenons130.com/files/1979%20280zx%20FSM.zip Edited October 27, 201113 yr by sblake01 Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/41179-1979-280zx-22-alternator-with-external-regulator/#findComment-370364 Share on other sites More sharing options...
October 29, 201113 yr Author comment_370513 Thank You for the information.I have downloaded the service manual and I am going to pull the alternator Saturday.Hopefully I will figure out what the small metal box is on the passenger side basically just because I am curious.Thank You all again for the helpHappy Trails,Candice Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/41179-1979-280zx-22-alternator-with-external-regulator/#findComment-370513 Share on other sites More sharing options...
October 29, 201113 yr comment_370529 Not sure how a 280ZX is setup but my guess would be that the box is either where the the E.F.I. relay or fusible links are located. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/41179-1979-280zx-22-alternator-with-external-regulator/#findComment-370529 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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