I stopped my car and when I went back to start it all the power was gone, nothing at all. I looked under the hood, and the bolt on the alternator that has a red single wire on it had burnt through and disconnected the wire. The alt has a lifetime warranty if it isn't my fault that it broke, so I'm hoping that it was defective. Or does this sound like something that could have been my fault?
There was enough bolt left that I grabbed the nut and put some vinyl tape over it cause the rubber thing was crusted away and hooked it back up, just to get home.

Its a 70, 350 4bbl, 30amp.
thanks for any info

quick side question too. Is that wire just the ground so could I put it somewhere else to ground it or does it have to be in that spot?
On my alternator there is a two wire plug with a white and a red that goes in the side, and then the burnt off wire that is on the back near the bottom and is red.
thanks again

I just had a similar problem last weekend. Except mine just lost the nut and diddnt fry anything. (loctite anyone???) That wire (10 Gauge) is your main power-up wire. The burnt up piece is an insulator that keeps the case isolated from the main + post. The reason you dont have a post anymore is that it was grounded somehow and basically "welded" it away.

The other two wires you mentioned are the internal regulators 12v "turn-on (driver side)" wire, and the "voltage sensing (Pass side)" wire.

Test to see if its working by starting the car and putting a voltmeter on the BIG post to see what and if you are charging at. It should be anywhere from 12-14.5 volts.


Please, correct me if I am wrong.
hope this helps...