electrical problem

They open just fine!
That is the external regulator.

Thanks guys.

Tom, why not use one of the drop in alternators I described earlier, be it a direct replacement or the 100A performance model? Is there something wrong with the external VR setup?

With the economy the way it is I really have to watch every penny right now, so I'm tempted to spend as little money as I can get away with. I'm still not really sure what was causing the initial power loss problem I was having in the first place.

Thanks for letting ramble on about this.

MJ

The external regulator is crap from what i've been reading online. They are inefficient and not the most effective to say the least.

I have a feeling most of the alternators you're looking at are actually internally regulated and they have you bypass the external regulator anyway.

I'll check them out for the internal reg. If I go with one of the drop ins that I mentioned would I have to go through all of the extra wiring that is recommended in the 3G mod or is that needed for the additional output of the 130A alternator? I'm trying to avoid digging into the harness at this time.

MJ

I have a feeling you'd have to do the extra wiring. You shouldn't have to dig into the harnesses much really as the wires go to the ext. regulator. Just double check that one of the wires in the regulator has 12 volts on it, one gets 12 when the key is in 'run'. You'll need to run those to the new alt and a heavy gauge wire.

If you or anyone out there could provide some sketches for ALL of the wiring needed for the 3G mod it would be an immense help to my feeble brain. The explanation on the mod has several areas that are not clicking in my head and I'm not sure about cutting the wiring harness open.

In the meantime, I will probably go with a direct replacement 75A alternator just so I can get back on the road.

MJ

MJ if you are overcharging like you pointed out in your post the regulator is shot. I would put in a combo reg alt setup and chuck the ext and old style unit. Is there a JY around you. You may be able to get a good used chevy unit and change the pulley. You have a double belt early drive. A lot of GM cars had double pulley setups. This is just a thought to save some coin. The JY will probably charge very little for a good alt. Bring the old one to match it up. TOM

The alternator was checked out on a bench by itself. The voltage regulator was not in the equation, or would a bad regulator cause an alternator to overcharge? I will check around the junkyards to see what they have as well as the parts places. Like I said, I've got to save money for now so if I can get by with some direct replacement parts (i.e. alt., external reg.) I will go that route for now. Is there some way to check the voltage regualtor or should I just go ahead and replace it? Anyone have any artist ability that can sketch a schematic for the 3G mod. I am electrically challenged.

Thanks.

MJ

Mike, there is sort of a schematics in the 3G article. Does that help?
http://www.turbotbird.com/techinfo/3G%20...nstall.htm

Mj if you are overcharging the regulator is NG CAPUT BAD. The alternator checked OK? If so 86 the regulator. High voltage boils out the watter in the battery. Charging voltage on a good system is 13.9-14.7 at 2000rpm