I'm an auto electrician and have a customers Kombie with a dead alt. I cannot get parts so I have decided to fit a VH Commodore Alternator instead. Anybody ever seen or done this?

sounds too hard. you cant sell him a 2nd hand one?

It's already done. Just got to connect 2 wires and it's finished. Just wanted to know if it has been done before. Oh. And it was easy.

Ps. I found a second hand but by the time I got it delivered and fitted it it was going to be around $200. Bit to steep for something that was going to stuff up anyway. He now has an alternator that you can get parts at any auto store and get secondhand at any wrecker. The owner is stoked.

[Edited on 8-2-2003 by IvanTheTerrible]

How does the Amperage of the Commodore unit compare to the original?

Commodore start at 55A and go up to 100A

What kind of alteration's did you have to do to get it to fit ?

It actually bolted straight onto the original mount but wouldn't reach the slotted tension bar. I made a new mount that was 40mm longer and it now bolts up. Only problem is that the old plate that seals the engine bay around the alternator doesnt fit anymore.

I'm sure I've read that the problem with using non-VW alternators is overheating b/c they need the cooling air feed from the main cooling system. The fan on the alternator is not sufficient b/c of the proximity to the exhaust.

Don't know if this applies to all varieties of air-cooled VW.