So I've been looking for a way to identify AD244 145A alternators to which I could upgrade. Please comment on what you think of my results.

I learned that there are similar alternators rated at 130A for which the RPO code is KG8. Also, there are some of the KG3 RPO vehicles that had the 2-wire plug instead of the required 4-wire plug.

A summary of the information I found is below.

Current part numbers: 19151921, 19244751, 20989650, 22781130, 3211845, 3212128
plug configuration: 4-wire
RPO code for 145 A: KG3

Web pages with cross-reference information:
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...&jsn=27&jsn=27
https://www.gmpartsxperts.com/oem-pa...zIFBh%E2%80%A6
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...generator,2412

Vehicles with the desired alternators:

Summary Application chart (see the attached list for the detailed applications with trim and engine size: "AD244 alternator cross reference.pdf" )
Year(s) Make Model
2004-2005 BUICK RAINIER
2003-2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE
2003-2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500
2003-2006 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 2500
2003-2007 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 1500
2003-2016 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 2500
2003-2016 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500
2009-2016 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 4500
2003-2006 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500
2007 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 CLASSIC
2003-2006 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500
2007 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 CLASSIC
2003-2006 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500
2007 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500 CLASSIC
2003-2004 CHEVROLET SSR
2003-2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500
2003-2006 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500
2003-2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE
2003-2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER
2003-2005 GMC ENVOY 5.3L
2003-2007 GMC SAVANA 1500
2003-2016 GMC SAVANA 2500
2003-2016 GMC SAVANA 3500
2009-2016 GMC SAVANA 4500
2003-2006 GMC SIERRA 1500
2007 GMC SIERRA 1500 CLASSIC
2003-2006 GMC SIERRA 2500
2007 GMC SIERRA 2500 CLASSIC
2003-2006 GMC SIERRA 3500
2007 GMC SIERRA 3500 CLASSIC
2003-2004 GMC YUKON
2003-2004 GMC YUKON XL 1500
2003-2006 GMC YUKON XL 2500
2003-2007 HUMMER H2
2003-2005 ISUZU ASCENDER
2005 SAAB 9-7X

Edit: For the Envoys, the right alternator came with the ones with the 5.3L.

 

 

That is a good head's up.

So I looked at my detailed list that was attached as a pdf and what I learned is that some of the them came with 5.3L engines! It is those that the the right alternator. I'll be updating the information above accordingly.

Thanks for the feed back.

P.S. It wasn't too hard to track down this information. I'd spend a little time each night over a few nights. It was a fun puzzle to solve.

 

 

Great info! This is one of many projects I'm planning for this spring/summer.

Btw, I've been looking into buying one of those Trailblazer SS's. Such a sweet ride, but cannot find one with lower mileage at a decent price. I'll keep looking.

 

...so I'm having trouble deciphering all this, and my apologies for being so dense but: if I'm understanding correctly, the major takeaway from all this should be that if you go to a junk yard and look for a late-ish model GMC Savana or Chevy Express 3500+ van then you can get a stronger (145A vs 100A) alternator that will be a drop-in fit?

 

No worries. What you described is pretty much how I have interpreted what I learned with the added requirement that it have the right RPO code. This was put together from online documents but I have not tested these applications.

To borrow an expression from the mathematicians, finding a Chevy Express 3500 van or a GMC Savanna of the right years "is a necessary but not sufficient condition" to ensure you get a 145A drop-in alternator.

As best as I could figure, the 145A alternator was available as an option on all Chevy Express 3500 and GMC Savanna vans but they might not have all come with them.

For instance, off the top of my head, RPO KG8 was a 135A alternator that could also fit our Blazers. This is still an improvement but we might as well get the 145A one, right?

Does that help?

P.S. What I plan to do when it gets warmer is go to a u-pull yard with the spread-sheet file and cruise the GM/Chevy truck section looking for likely vehicles and then check them against the list and look for the right RPO code. What I do not know very well are the engines by sight which seems to be one of the determining factors if a vehicle had a KG3 code or not.

 

I've read that the two wire alternators can have the regulator switched out and replaced with the 4 wire setup. Supposedly this lets you plug in your connector to the alternator. The reason this is supposed to work is the newer alternators are computer controlled and they will resort to a limp mode and still put out about 14 volts without the computer. Don't know if it's gospel or not but I have one and one of these days I'll bolt it up and try it out.

 

 

Yes I've heard the same about the 2-wire vs 4-wire. To the best of my ability, the alternator for the vehicles in the list I compiled are all 4-wire ones like in out Blazers. With so many available, I would not think it worth the effort to do a conversion unless you already had one of the 2-wire ones.