Classic/Antique Car Repair: 1953 Buick Super, Generator output specs

Question
The above mentioned Buick belongs to my father and he has asked me to modify the charging system i.e. change from original generator to an alternator. The information I seek is this. What is the voltage and ampereage output from the factory generator? I don't want to "over due it" with a modern alternator. The company we have bought batteries from (Antiqueautobatteries.com) sends a warning sheet along with the battery telling you to never use more than a 10 amp charger on their battery. Forgive my ignorance about ac charging versus onboard charging but these batteries are very expensive. Also, I read your instructions and I'm not asking which alternator to use just what the voltage/amperage out put from the oem generator was as I can no longer extract this information from the generator itself. Thanks in advance for any info you can provide.
AC

Answer
A 1953 Buick Super has the first year 12 volt systems from Buick - they used a 30 amp maximum output rated generator.  The voltage output from the generator depends on the temperature, the battery state of charge and condition and the RPM of the engine. When charging the battery under normal operating conditions, the voltage regulator limits the voltage to about 14.4 volts.  When the battery is being charged rapidly due to a severely depleted battery, the voltage will be higher than that temporarily.  When the charging is complete, and there is no heavy electrical load on the system, the voltage will be around 13.5 volts.   This is not a critical item.

I don't know what the battery outfit is worried about regarding maximum charging rate on their batteries - 10 amps is ridiculously low - 40 amps will not hurt a normal battery.   If you are changing to a modern gel cell technology battery, that may make a difference, but even then, I question such a low limit.

I wonder why your Dad wants an alternator - the generator has some attributes that are nice to have, and it was certainly adequate for the car.   With an alternator, you cannot push start a car if the battery is dead - but with a generator, it will charge even a totally dead battery, or even with no battery at all in the car, it will allow push starting and the engine will run until you turn it off.   The only benefit from an alternator is that it will charge even at idle - this is important only if you spend hours idling with the heater and lights on such as in a winter storm - but even then, stepping up the idle speed a bit provides adequate charging.  The downside to this change is loss of originality - for whatever that means to you.

Dick