I have an 81 vette i purchased 2 months ago, having charging problems, so the first one that was in the car I know was not the original but it was not putting a charge back into the battery. so I go to ORILLEYS and get a rebuilt one, guess what that was not putting a chasrge back into the battery, and was getting so hot you could not put your hand on it. so back to ORILLEYS for the 3rd one they tested it says the voltage regulator was bad in number 2. so they swap it out for the 3rd one I made them bench test the 3rd one before i left the store, it was putting out 14.7 volts, install it and wow reallly getting a charge back into the battery 13.5 to around 13.9. so i go to a local repair shop the owner lives up the street from me and has 2 corvettes one being a 81 also, he tells me all cars are different some pu into the battery less than 14 volts ect, now while at his shop outside in hot florida weather i felt the alternator and it was getting hat, i mentioned this to him he said it could be the sun but would have to get it into the shop to look at it. took it to coffee at 4an this morning drove it about 8 miles this morning got home in the dark opened the hood put my hand on the alternator wow was it getting hot. ANY ONE HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT I SHOULD DO TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. thank for any good replies

 

does your alternator have a ground wire in the wire harness connecting to it?
If so is the connection clean and no chance it is broken under the insulation?

 

yes and it goes to the block, not positive if it,s clean but will check it tomorrow. after i posted this did some research and i guess it,s common for them to run hot, dont quite understand that tho.

 

there is a fan built into the alternator pulley. they get hot. they also live in a hot engine compartment surrounded by air that already went through the radiator. i think you worry needlessly.

 

I went over all the grounds except if there is one on the frame replaced screws and bolts and washers if needed polished up all ground connections. turned engine on in the garage with my large fan blowing on me it,s hot here, and the alternator gets to hot to touch it, and maybe i,am over thinking it and it,s the nature of the beast.