Is this the right radiator?

[Jesse R Pearson]

Hi all. I bought an '87 V10 1500 long bed last year and it doesn't have the fan shroud on it. I was looking under the hood the other day and noticed that it looked like the radiator was new, but the top brackets had been bent. I'd like to install a new shroud, but I'll have to replace the top brackets since they've been bent. I'm wondering if they've were bent to make the radiator fit so would you mind looking at the attached photos and telling me if this is the correct radiator? Or did they bend the brackets in order to make the new radiator fit? Thanks!

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[bucket]

Looks like all they did was install the brackets on the wrong sides. Then couldn't figure why they didn't fit, so they bent the tabs to clear.

I'd just repair those brackets.

I also see that the alternator is not correct for an '87. So if you ever need to replace it, you will have to get one for an '86. Or, un-adapt the wire harness that they adapted.

 

[bucket]

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[Jesse R Pearson]

Looks like all they did was install the brackets on the wrong sides. Then couldn't figure why they didn't fit, so they bent the tabs to clear.

I'd just repair those brackets.

I also see that the alternator is not correct for an '87. So if you ever need to replace it, you will have to get one for an '86. Or, un-adapt the wire harness that they adapted.

Thanks Bucket! Any suggestions on how to unadapt the wire harness from the alternator?

 

[Bextreme04]

What is different on the wiring harness for an 87 alternator? That looks like a 94amp 12SI that would have been stock on a late 80's 454. I just swapped one into my 1980 350 since I added dual electric fans and some other accessories. It was a direct swap since they are all three wire alternators AFAIK.

 

[Jesse R Pearson]

What is different on the wiring harness for an 87 alternator? That looks like a 94amp 12SI that would have been stock on a late 80's 454. I just swapped one into my 1980 350 since I added dual electric fans and some other accessories. It was a direct swap since they are all three wire alternators AFAIK.

I agree. I just looked at the alternators for my truck at Advance and AutoZone and all of them had two wire plugs.

 

[bucket]

What is different on the wiring harness for an 87 alternator? That looks like a 94amp 12SI that would have been stock on a late 80's 454. I just swapped one into my 1980 350 since I added dual electric fans and some other accessories. It was a direct swap since they are all three wire alternators AFAIK.

Starting in '87, they went to the CS130 alternator. It can be seen in my picture.

 

[bucket]

Ok, so I guess there were still trucks in '87 with the 10SI. But most trucks in '87 were TBI which I believe came standard with the CS130. I think.

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[bucket]

It's easy to adapt. Despite having a 4-pin plug, only two of the pins are used for most applications.

 

[Bextreme04]

Ok, so I guess there were still trucks in '87 with the 10SI. But most trucks in '87 were TBI which I believe came standard with the CS130. I think.

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I don't see any 10si options on rockauto. They are showing 12SI or CS130 for the 5.7, not sure why they had both options in 87 V10's. They show ONLY the 12SI for the V30 with 454. I wonder what determined whether you got the 2 pin or 4 pin alternator harness?

 

[Jesse R Pearson]

I don't see any 10si options on rockauto. They are showing 12SI or CS130 for the 5.7, not sure why they had both options in 87 V10's. They show ONLY the 12SI for the V30 with 454. I wonder what determined whether you got the 2 pin or 4 pin alternator harness?

I bet that they offered other luxury electrical items that required the CS130.

 

[Bextreme04]

I bet that they offered other luxury electrical items that required the CS130.

The CS130 doesn't put out more power while driving though. It just has a better low RPM power output than both the 10SI and 12SI. Although with the 3:1 pulley advantage, most engines are spinning the alternator at about 1800-2100 rpm at idle, which has the 94 amp 12si producing about 50amps at idle and the CS130 producing about 60-65. It's interesting to see the difference based on engine type, I can't think of any amount of accessories except for maybe dual electric cooling fans that would need that amount of current even at idle.

 

[Jesse R Pearson]

The CS130 doesn't put out more power while driving though. It just has a better low RPM power output than both the 10SI and 12SI. Although with the 3:1 pulley advantage, most engines are spinning the alternator at about 1800-2100 rpm at idle, which has the 94 amp 12si producing about 50amps at idle and the CS130 producing about 60-65. It's interesting to see the difference based on engine type, I can't think of any amount of accessories except for maybe dual electric cooling fans that would need that amount of current even at idle.

The cs130 amperage is higher though.

 

[bucket]

4 pins in the alternator plug:

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But still only two wires in the harness:

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I've never paid much attention to the 10/12SI in post '87 GM vehicles I guess. But for the most part, '87 was the switch in stuff I've owned. Trucks, Camaros, FWD'S, etc.

 

[RecklessWOT]

4 pins in the alternator plug:

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But still only two wires in the harness:

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I've never paid much attention to the 10/12SI in post '87 GM vehicles I guess. But for the most part, '87 was the switch in stuff I've owned. Trucks, Camaros, FWD'S, etc.

My 'Burb is an '87 and it still has a 2 post alternator, very much original wiring. Yours also looks to be serp belt as opposed to V-belt. I always thought the switch was in '89 when they got the ugly new grille/lights/side mouldings/mirrors/steering wheel/etc, but maybe I was wrong? Could it be just because my '87 is only a V10 1/2 ton TBI350?