alternator/wiring

[Johnny C10]

Hello all. Im in the process of making my 69 c10 road worthy. I drove it around one night and noticed all lights dimming. Also, one of my turn signals stopped working. I cleaned the ground wire on the signal light and that got it working again. Im guessing maybe the alternator is starting to go. I currently have an external regulator and am wondering if I should convert it to internal. Im not sure what advantages it will give me but I want to go the best route. Any help on my situation would be greatly appreciated!

[FirstOwner69]

Here's a thread on the subject from a few days ago. Should be some help.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=676814

Welcome aboard the board!!!

[ak808]

hotly debated topic here...

my 70 was externally regulated, after replacing the regulator a couple times, the alternator once, and a battery once, and being stranded a few times... I put a 10si in (completely removing the harness for the external reg), its clean, reliable, no more getting stranded, no more dead truck....

can sit for weeks on end and I know I can still walk out and start it.

For me internally regulated 10si was a no brainer. Maybe some one will chime in with the differing opinion though

[VetteVet]

This thread should help.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=417872

[Johnny C10]

Thanks alot for the great advice! I will definitely check out the links.

[Kaptain Kadian]

Listen to VetteVet. He knows what he is talking about. He helped me wire my conversion I did late last year when I did my serp swap. Couldn't be happier with it

[greenmonsterC20]

I had an externally regulated deal on my 69 C20. The previous owner had installed a new alternator and regulator just a few weeks before i bought it (had receipts to prove it). One night i was out driving with my buddies not long after i bought it. And same thing. Lights started to dim and then the turn signals stopped working. I was 20 miles from home. After driving 5 of those miles with all my lights shut off to conserve power, with the engine chugging on probably 4 out of 8 cylinders, i barely limped it up the small hill into my driveway. I come to find out the regulator fried from a short somewhere in the factory front harness. When i dug into it, found nothing but opens, corrosion, and cracked wire insulation. I got a new front harness from Classic parts for the GM one wire conversion and threw the new/used alternator from my 80 Impala in. No problems since.