1969 External Voltage Regulator?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 924
Likes: 467
From: Brentwood CA
1969 External Voltage Regulator?
Please help, I'm a little confused. I took the alternator from my basket case, '69 427/435 into the local auto electric shop to have it checked out. I got a call from them about an hour later and asking if I was aware that it was externally regulated like this was something that was unexpected. I'm almost certain it's the unit that came off the car when it was last running but, I've also read on this forum that '68 was the last year for external regulators on Corvettes. The car's trim tag shows "F16" which I believe means a build date of January 16 1969.
Thanks,
-Doug
Thanks,
-Doug
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,105
Likes: 96
From: Sunrise FL
Having an external regulator is unexpected to THEM as they don't have one on their test set up.
Remember our cars are 40+ years old, alternators now have an internal regulator, and the guy testing parts does not even know what a carb is.
Remember our cars are 40+ years old, alternators now have an internal regulator, and the guy testing parts does not even know what a carb is.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
There is probably an F16 in every model year. 68s were the last cars to have a voltage regulator. They mount on the left fender skirt.
Does your car have a voltage regulator on the skirt?
What is the VIN? It will show 8 for 68 and 9 for 69 as the model year codes.
Does your car have a voltage regulator on the skirt?
What is the VIN? It will show 8 for 68 and 9 for 69 as the model year codes.
Last edited by Easy Mike; May 10, 2016 at 12:05 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 924
Likes: 467
From: Brentwood CA
The VIN: 194379S713367
Thanks,
-Doug
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,065
Likes: 1,395
From: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Trivia from the past....
Shortly after I purchased my '70, new, the alternator failed. Actually it was the internal regulator. At that time there were no replacement regulators available. Apparently there was a very high failure rate of the regulators at that time.
Under warranty, the dealer installed an external regulator. After several months, I was advised by the dealer to come in and have my alternator converted back to an internal regulator.
Yours may have had the same problem years ago and never got converted back.
Shortly after I purchased my '70, new, the alternator failed. Actually it was the internal regulator. At that time there were no replacement regulators available. Apparently there was a very high failure rate of the regulators at that time.
Under warranty, the dealer installed an external regulator. After several months, I was advised by the dealer to come in and have my alternator converted back to an internal regulator.
Yours may have had the same problem years ago and never got converted back.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 924
Likes: 467
From: Brentwood CA
Thanks,
-Doug
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,105
Likes: 96
From: Sunrise FL
If the wiring is that messed up I would buy a new engine harness for a 70, and use the internal regulator alternator (cheap, and will look better than a 40 year old part)!
Will prevent a lot of headaches/problems! When assembling pay attention to the extra grounds Vettes need being fiberglass bodied.
Will prevent a lot of headaches/problems! When assembling pay attention to the extra grounds Vettes need being fiberglass bodied.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,222
Likes: 93
From: shelbyville West Michigan
how many wires were connected to the alternator when you removed it, and where were they connected?
maybe you have a 1-wire alternator with the plug capped off so it looks like there is no regulator.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,152
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
how exactly is that possible? without the regulator, how is the brush holder mounted?
how many wires were connected to the alternator when you removed it, and where were they connected?
maybe you have a 1-wire alternator with the plug capped off so it looks like there is no regulator.
how many wires were connected to the alternator when you removed it, and where were they connected?
maybe you have a 1-wire alternator with the plug capped off so it looks like there is no regulator.
The brush holder and regulator are 2 different pieces in a 10SI alternator so technically it would be possible. The brush holder does mount on top of the regulator so some kind of spacer would be required.
In reality, they probably just swapped on a 10DI alternator until they got the parts to fix the 10SI alternator.
Also in reality, the parts store guy probably doesn't know what he's talking about when saying there was a space for a regulator.
Last edited by lionelhutz; May 12, 2016 at 10:13 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,222
Likes: 93
From: shelbyville West Michigan
The brush holder and regulator are 2 different pieces in a 10SI alternator so technically it would be possible. The brush holder does mount on top of the regulator so some kind of spacer would be required.
In reality, they probably just swapped on a 10DI alternator until they got the parts to fix the 10SI alternator.
Also in reality, the parts store guy probably doesn't know what he's talking about when saying there was a space for a regulator.
In reality, they probably just swapped on a 10DI alternator until they got the parts to fix the 10SI alternator.
Also in reality, the parts store guy probably doesn't know what he's talking about when saying there was a space for a regulator.
my bet is the parts store guy is an idiot. I had a 1-wire on my ford tractor 6v to 12v conversion that went bad and the guy at the parts store was clueless how to test it or even get another one until I explained and an older worker pushed him aside to do it right
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 924
Likes: 467
From: Brentwood CA
I took it to an auto electric specialist (not a parts house) who replaced all the internals, installed a new regulator and, IMO, definitely does know what he's talking about.