87-88 TC Alternators

I am putting the motor back in the 87 TC I am working on. This was a body only that I took the engine and transmission from a donor car and put in it. All of the TC's I have owned before had the alternator like the one in the pic of the alternators from the front view labeled "alternator 2". The alternator that was in this car is the one labeled "alternator #1. The wiring harnesses are different for both alternators. Alternator #1 has the connector labeled "connector 2" and the larger connector labeled "connector 1". Connector #1 has 3 wirers coming from it, the 2 largest ones are spliced together (marked in the pic) and the 3rd wire is connected to nothing. Alternator #2 has the "connector #2" and a post where I am use to seeing the large black wire with the red strip bolted to, the large wire that is in the "connector #1". I took the alternators to an Advanced Auto near me and they say that Alternator #1 is the correct stock alternator. What has happened to this car? I would hook Alternator #1 up but I am afraid of the hack job on "connector #1". What style of alternator should be hooked up in this car and where do the 3 wires in "connector #1" go? Sorry this is so long. Thanks, Michael

mmedic,

It looks to me like it may originally have had the mitsu style alternator (alternator #2) which uses conncector 2 and a single wire with a ring terminal on the end (where connector #1 is spliced). Right now, it looks to be set up for the motorcraft (alternator #1) style alternator. Maybe someone will chime in to confirm this, but if you want to use Alt. #2, just add a ring terminal to tbe black/orange wire, hook up, and go. It's very possible it is a factory "hackjob" as sometimes running changes are made during a production year.

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1988 Tcoupe
1984 20th Anniversary GT350 Mustang 'Vert
1984 Mustang GT T-roof
1965 Shelby Cobra Replica

alternator 1 is the style that came on the 87 and older TC, and alt 2 is the 88 style. they both work on your car. conn 2 goes into either alt, just plug'n'play, you just need to find it on the 88 (its there). what you need to do for conn 1 is to cut id at the splice (where there is only 1 wire) and put a ring terminal on it. this then just bolts to the + terminal on the back.

it is easy, I put the 88 alt on my 87 and it works great.

Thanks for the info. Alternator #2 is what I am use to, I was concerned about the 2 wires being spliced together and the 3rd wire not hooked to anything is why I was hesitant about using alternator #1. Thanks again.