My '71 hs been rewired front to back with a Painless system, and it uses an internally regulatd alt. from a '95 Chevy pickup.

Last week the alt. went bad so i put a new one on. I havent driven it since i put the new one on. Today i hooked up the battery, and without running the car, 5 minutes later, the alternator housing was hot to the touch. If i unhook the battery, it cools off. Hook the battery up; the alt gets hot again.
All of this is without the key in the ignition, not running, no accessories drawing power... nothing.

So why is it getting so hot?

-Matt

Sounds like they pinched something when they assembled the alternator. Guessing something off the field windings. Take it back and get another one.

John, i think everytime I've posted something in this forum, you have answered in 30 min or less.

You ROCK! graemlins/hurray.gif

I'm off to the parts store to see what they can do for me.

-Matt