Voltage Regulator
10-29-2014, 10:11 PM
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Racer
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Voltage Regulator
I recently had to replace the voltage regulator on my 65. The one that I removed had the proper date stamp and part number. Can these be rebuilt? If so can anyone suggest where this can be done? 
10-30-2014, 07:46 AM
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10-30-2014, 08:20 AM
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I think most only cosmetically restore VR. So what's wrong with yours
10-30-2014, 01:22 PM
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Racer
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It would not switch to recharge the battery. I had the car out and parked it. When I went to leave the battery was dead. Jumped the car and drove it home. Friend came over and tested the battery, that was good. Tested the voltage regulator and was not getting power accross it. He was able to mannually switch it (guage showed it charging). Replace it and the car is running fine.
10-31-2014, 10:41 AM
#6
Team Owner
It would not switch to recharge the battery. I had the car out and parked it. When I went to leave the battery was dead. Jumped the car and drove it home. Friend came over and tested the battery, that was good. Tested the voltage regulator and was not getting power accross it. He was able to mannually switch it (guage showed it charging). Replace it and the car is running fine.
10-31-2014, 05:02 PM
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If it's an original V/R then the points can be dressed up and adjustments made per the shop manual. If its one of the later Chinesium repros then its non-adjustable most likely and hit or miss as to quality. If a repro will work then you can slide a solid-state VR-715 under the original dust cover and it'll work better than new but not pass judging (its too reactive)
10-31-2014, 05:06 PM
#9
Melting Slicks
10-31-2014, 06:26 PM
#10
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Prob original then - might not hurt to take a crack at adjusting it yourself....the service manual has the procedure.
10-31-2014, 08:29 PM
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That sounds like a Delco original. If its not working you should replace it, I wouldn't spend money on it. Yes you can dress the contacts but even if it is munged up contacts, dressing them will only get you so far before they fail again. If one of the coils has shorted or opened, its rest in peace.
The originals had plain uncolored sheet metal chassis with covers embossed with Delco Remy staggered one above the other. The licensed Delco replacements have yellow cad chassis with covers in which the embossed Delco Remy is not staggered.
Both have the resistors on the back. If you have one without resistors, it is a solid state unit.
Best course of action? Purchase the look alike solid state replacement (which has a silver chassis so it looks right) and put your original cover on it. It will be the last time you deal with your voltage regulator unless of course some knot head hooks up a set of jumper cables backwards.
As Frankie said, the Chinese replacement units suck. (I'm on my 3rd in 7 years on a 60 Buick). If you must be pure about it, pay a ton for a NOS regulator. I'm too cheap and stubborn
Dan