i have a 72 malibu, stock 350, holley projection, msd 6a, a/c,pwr windows, sony cd, 100w punch amp. i have had this set up for almost 2 years, and the same motor and accesories in a '64 cutlass 5yrs ago. recently it quit charging, won't read past 12volts. had the altenator tested, it was good, had the battery tested, it was good.
while i used the in dash volt meter for driving, i tested everthing under the hood with a digital multimeter. all test were with all accesories off(except the projection & msd). i replaced the altenator b/c there was play in the bearing, oem replacement was 60 amps. is this enough? what else should i check?

Did you check the voltage regulator? How about double checking the body ground and the engine ground? As for the 60 amp alt, probably enough but I went with a 96amp with built in V/R myself. No more slowdown on the blinkers in my '70! http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif


[This message has been edited by Riffers70 (edited 08-03-99).]

Definately check your voltage regulator. 60 amps should be sufficient, but more amperage wouldn't hurt. My 72 has a stock 350 w/ 63 amp alternator (factory stereo and air cond.) and its fine. Your voltage regulator is located behind the driver's side headlight on the radiator support and has a wire harness with 4 different colored wires that plugs into it. Take a look at this link for a better understanding:
www.chevelles.com/techref/ftecref14.html (http://www.chevelles.com/techref/ftecref14.html)
Even if you're not going to do the external to internal conversion, it'll give you a better picture of what to look for. Good luck!!

------------------
Jeremy J. Bennett
72 Chevelle
Team Chevelle #298

well, i forgot to mention i have an internally regulated alt., and have bypassed the volt regulator.

Did you use a one wire alt or a standard three wire, if you used a three wire are all of the wires hooked up properly. The exciter the brown wire(usually brown) may not be hooked up.

i have all the wires hooked up properly, its a 3 wire alt. i did the conversion 2 years ago,problem just started last month. tested it last night and the battery read 11.3, so did every wire on the alt! when i first installed the new alt my voltage read 13 for about a week. think the regulator broke?

It would not be the first one to break.

thanks to those who replied! turns out blown diode in the regulator!