Last night, my '65 Belvedere's headlights and interier lights were a little dim and the wipers were running a little slow. It got a little worse when I turned the fan on. While this was happening, the amp gauge needle was a little off center towards the discharge side. At one point, I pulled over and looked under the hood and could see some sparking inside of the generator. I had also been driving for a couple of hours.

This morning the conditions are still the same but the generator isn't sparking. Since rebuilding the engine, I've replaced the voltage regulator (damaged during motor install) and the ballest resistor (for the heck of it). The battery is fairly new and in good condition.

Here's the main question: I've heard that one should "polarize" a voltage regulator during replacement. Should I have done the same? Is this what is causing my issues?

When you have a generator" you should polarize the system.
You do not have a generator on your 65 Mopar, you have an alternator. You should NEVER polarize an alternator system. You need to trouble shoot the system to find the problem. As a WAG, I think the brushes might be bad in the alternator.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

Thanks for the info. I thought that it looked like an alternator but I've "heard" that alternators have the regulator and the balast resistor built into it. So I've learned something new.

Luckily, these alternators are not too expensive so that may be the answer to my problem.

Thanks for the help.

Cheao fix, replace brushes, can be done with alternater in place. Just have to remove screws that hold them in (look at where the wires are atached) just don't loose the washers.

Richard

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Part of Tyrde-Browne Racing