TheSamba.com :: View topic - has anyone tried the chico performance alternator kit?

Sun Jun 10, 2012 5:18 pm

well my fasty has been off the road for a few months
because the t-1 generator the previous owner installed
gave up the ghost

so i need a new generator but would really like to do an alternator conversion
and i keep seeing ads for this one
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1296042
from chico performance racing

and just wanted some feedback on it
before i order
or should i keep searching

Sun Jun 10, 2012 7:18 pm

Saw it at the classic today, looks good, but I know nothing else

Sun Jun 10, 2012 8:23 pm

It is basically a copy of air_cooled_nut's set up. I've been using ACN's set up for 9 years and countless miles now. It is great!

Sun Jun 10, 2012 9:11 pm

thank you so much guys
its driving me crazy not being able to drive my fasty

im assuming since it states "no modifications needed"
well,just that.
no grinding ,hammering or cutting...............

Mon Jun 11, 2012 11:45 am

I ordered one bout two weeks ago. Called chico, great service fast shipping. I just nounted it on the motor and it was a fairly easy install about twenty minutes at most.

Still have not started the car as the motor is outside. I plan on installing it on friday and I will let you know as soon as I start it.

Good product, especially for someone like me with no intention of fabricating anything.

Mon Jun 11, 2012 12:27 pm

I'm in the process of ordering one too. I'm waiting to get a shipping quote to my APO address...

Yes, it may be a bit costly for a "$80 alternator", but I'm paying for the convenience. Living overseas, I don't have luxury of being able to go to a local parts store and getting all the parts that I need any time I need them.

Tue Jun 12, 2012 10:04 am

I saw the display at the Classic. It's solid. I really pressed and pulled on the alternator and it didn't move a bit.

Tue Jun 12, 2012 1:14 pm

wouldnt diy be just the brackets and belt?

Tue Jun 19, 2012 10:22 am

vdubjim wrote: wouldnt diy be just the brackets and belt?

That would be like Volkswagen selling you just the pan and body and you installing your own engine trans and beam :D Sounds dam good but not the way to take credit for your money invested and ideas. The kit is only sold complete and is DIY install

Wed Jul 11, 2012 1:55 am

At long last, I started my 2028cc up with the smallternator (initialy I had the generator) and you know what?? it works fine. Output was hovering around 14.4-14.5V.

Once I have the ECU programmed appropriately I will take the car out on the road and give you more details but my first impressions are that it fits good and works.

Have a look at my images for what the engine looks like with it fitted.

Wed Jul 11, 2012 4:49 am

I installed the kit a couple of weeks ago. Installation was very easy. It wasn't until after I installed an alternator that I realized just how under-powering the old generator was. So much so that I had to re-tune the MS ECU! I'm very happy with this kit and wish that I had installed it sooner.

However, there are few points that I feel should be noted:

- The belt was a little too small. It worked out fine, but there was no room for adjustment with the brackets. Maybe this had to do with 6v vs 12v fan shroud?

- I don't expect the after-market alternator to fit precisely, but there is a large gap around it and the smaller fan shroud. Does it let in a lot of warm air? Maybe, maybe not... I might cut some metal flashing to close up the opening just in case.

- Check the wires that come with the kit. They have hand-crimped terminals and one of the wires came loose while I was driving. A simple fix, but it panicked the family a little...

- And at idle, the alternator whistles/whines. Once you get above 1000 rpm, the noise goes away. From what I've read, this is common for alternators and it hasn't affected its performance.

Like I mentioned above, this is a great kit and easy to install. And the convenience of having everything you need in one kit is very handy, especially if you live overseas, like me, and don't have easy access to local parts stores. Good job Chico!

Wed Jul 11, 2012 9:28 am

great product review. thanks!!

So, you are using a 6v shroud? This is Ideal for me as I want to change from 6 to 12 without cutting anything. Only for modern stereo reasons

Wed Jul 11, 2012 10:19 am

Since my car is a 1970 model, I assume that it is a 12 volt shroud. I'm not sure of the differences between the two, but maybe it would make a difference?

Thu Oct 25, 2012 7:20 pm

Has anybody else tried this out yet? Seems like a good option. For those who have, have you notice a lot of improvement over the generator?

Thu Oct 25, 2012 11:36 pm

TxPunisher wrote: Has anybody else tried this out yet? Seems like a good option. For those who have, have you notice a lot of improvement over the generator?
Here's a thread on Type 3 generator to alternator conversion. There are quite a lot of photos, and there are posts about the Chico Smallternator.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...;start=220