Pinto Car Club of America

I have an 80 Pinto with a 302, and I just swapped the alternator for a 10SI.  Problem was, the original alternator just had the wire to the "batt" terminal and nothing else, so now I'm trying to wire up the new alternator so the "alt" light will come on if the alternator goes out, but don't know what wire I need to look for under the hood.   

I ordered a book on the pinto in the hopes of some wiring diagrams, and got it two days ago to discover...no wiring diagrams.  At all.  Such is life, but now I turn to you guys.  The most comprehensive pinto place on the web. 

So what color wire is the underhood wire you hook up to the alternator so your "alt" light comes on if the alternator is bad? 

I am not familiar with the 10SI alternator.  The original Pinto alternator used an external voltage regulator.  The dash alternator warning lamp wire is light green with a red stripe and was connected to the "I" terminal of the voltage regulator.  If the 10SI alternator has an internal voltage regulator, it may have a "I" terminal on the alternator case (the 1987 Ford alternator does) and the light green with red stripe wire could be connected there.  This is from Ford manuals entitled "Electrical & Vacuum Trouble Shooting Manual".  These Ford manuals are very helpful and show up on ebay every once in a while for around $10 plus shipping.  Hope this helps getting your light working.

That worked wonderfully, thank you. 

The 10SI alternator is a GM alternator.  Puts out higher amperage, cheaper and easier to find, etc.  It did have an "I" terminal in addition to the batt, and I've got it all hooked up now.  Thanks again.