FWIW....

I totally believe Evan that the 3 Vanagons he's owned have 65amp alternators
because I had heard of them, but I can only think of two instances in the
past 25 years where I ran across a 65amp alternator on a Wasserboxer and
even then that was in late 80s when I sold Vanagon 90amp alternators (Bosch
AL27 & AL33) on a regular basis to local Vanagon owners and shops.  Both
look identical in bracketry and I sold 90amp models to these two owners with
no problems encountered.  But all other cores returned were 90amp as well
except for where I've noted above.  Both my Bosch & VW references dating
back to 1982 indicate that for the USA/Canadian market with the DH
engine 90amp was the standard and for the 86-91 MV engine as well.

There was a 90amp alternator (AL30X) with the "B22" connection configuration
which is essentially a rectangular dual terminal plug (for the D+ [alt
light] and "W" [stator]) on the backside of the alternator Bosch says
were equipped on 85 DH Wasserboxers.  I've only seen one of those.

In Europe, Vanagons were equipped with 45amp (068 903 025 S/068 903 017 A)
Alternators & 65amp (068 903 025 T/060 903 017) Alternators for Engine Codes
DF, DG & EY thru 1985.

65amp (AL25X/AL26X) was installed as original on the CS Diesels through
1984, based on my 1984 dated USA/Canadian market Factory Fiche. In ETKA
(Europe), it's indicated a 90amp (068 903 029 F/068 903 017 P) was installed
in Diesels during the same period.  Why North America got the short shrift
on this I don't know.

Just my second nickel's worth....
--
Jim Thompson
84 GL 1.9 "Gloria"
84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
73 K Ghia Coupe "Denise"
72 411 Station Wagon "Pug"
oldvolkshome@gmail.com
http://www.oldvolkshome.com
***********************************
On 6/22/07, Evan Mac Donald <macdonald1987@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
> No, stock was NOT 90 amp. I have had three '85 and earlier, and they all
> had 65 amp as original. Even the ones with air conditioning as OE. Many
> owners have done the upgrade, myself included, as soon as need presented
> itself, since it is so simple. But, many of the old / previous owners did
> not do their own work, and thus left the work to their favorite "shop", who
> would almost certainly not do any replacements other than exactly stock. No
> reason / justification for them to take such a chance.
>
> Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM> wrote:  In a message dated 21/06/2007
> 3:40:46 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:
>
> All Waterboxers come originally with a 90 amp alternator (AL27X or AL33X),
> which were also used on 85-88 Golfs & Jettas. The difference is just in
> the
> pulley, so there's really no upgrade going on here Both my 84s have 90 amp
> alternators.
>
>
>
>
>
> Thank you Jim, I was wonder if somebody was gonna speak up on this before
> I
> got into some snide message typing !!!!
>
> Cheers,
>
> Frank Condelli
> Almonte, Ontario, Canada
> '87 Westy & Lionel Trains (_Collection for sale_
> (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/trainsal.htm) )
> _Frank Condelli & Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
> - Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
> _Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems_
> (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
> _BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm) a VW Camper
> camping event, Almonte, ON, June 07 ~ 10, 2007