69 Dart GTS 383 4 Speed Completely Original

You need to...........

Download a free factory manual, here

http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?p=1970088617

and more manuals and other stuff here

http://www.mymopar.com/index.php?pid=31

Read the manual, section 8 about alternators. We can step you through some simplified tests

PLEASE READ this article. You don't have to DO this mod, just read the article

http://www.madelectrical.com/electrical-tech.shtml

It does a couple of things for you. First, it points out the pitfalls and the whys of the wiring in these old girls Second, there's a simplified diagram on that page which shows a good overview of the major electrical distribution in these cars

THINGS to watch for. As I said, we can step you through

Can you post the part no and better yet a photo of the newest alternator you have? The rebuilders of late "play games." Here's the thing. THERE ARE three or four major "big splits" in the types of alternators that would fit and be made to work--------without mechanical alterations------on your car

They are............

1......First year up through 69 alternator which has a single field connection, and one grounded brush

2.....1970---73? so called "round back" with isolated field, that is, TWO insulated brushes.

3.....1969 /earlier CONVERTED to insulated brush by the cheap rebuilders

4......73? and later so called "square back" with isolated brushes.

Your car has the "early" style regulator that is one insulated brush holder. You can use the LATER alternators (1970/ later) by grounding either brush and hooking up to yours as per normal

================================

The problems..........................

you might have inadvertently gotten an isolated field unit, either original or rebuilder converted, meaning one brush still needs to be grounded to work

you might have a defective rebuilt alternator, not uncommon

you might have yet another defective regulator, not uncommon with today's "Chineseo" junk


VERY FIRST THING TO TRY

First, buy yourself some tools if you do not have them. Buy a bag or two of Radio Shack test clip leads. Buy a digital multimeter. Everybody sells these nowadays, parts stores, Sears, Lowes, etc

But a 12V test lamp and a spark tester gap from the parts store.

Unhook the green field wire at the alternator. Hook a clip lead from the big alternator stud to the field terminal on the alternator. BE CAREFUL. That big stud is HOT and IS NOT FUSED.

In subdued light, you should see a small spark. Start the engine, bring up RPM. The ammeter should show charge, more as RPM comes up.

Post back with this result

I am sorry to all the folks that have posted help on this topic that it has taken me this long to try anything out. I have been extremely busy with travel for work since the original post and haven't had any time to mess with this car until today.

I have posted pics of the alternator as requested and I believe that it is the correct type for 69 with a single field connection and a grounded brush. The only difference from the original appears to be that it is a double pulley. It is a USA Industries model #7001 i believe is the part number.

I have also tried as suggested unhooking the green field wire and connecting a lead from the stud to the field terminal. When i do this with the car running it registers a charge and as rpm is increased it goes all the way up to the C on the ammeter from about half way between the middle and the C. When I turn the lights on it still behaves the same way and doesn't show any discharge.

When hooked up correctly the ammeter shows a charge for a few minutes then starts acting erratically and goes from full charge to full discharge and everywhere in between. Eventually it goes to a slight discharge and if you turn on the light it shows it discharging even more at idle. If you bring up the rpm the ammeter shows that it isn't discharging as much but it never goes to the charge side of gauge.

I have unplugged and inspected all of the bulkhead connections and cleaned them up with a wire brush. They didn't look to bad to start with but this was something that others had also suggested.

I have inspected all of the grounds and couldn't see anything obvious from there. The ground wire from the block to the firewall had some cracked and split insulation but the wire was good and i checked it for continuity and it made a good circuit.

Not sure what else to do from here. Hoping for some more guidance. I'm pretty clueless when it comes to electrical issues.