Are electrical problem contagious?

[ckhd]

The '68 threw a belt. How long have any of you drove without a fan belt turning the water pump? Well, I guess that since I was driving at 75-ish, that the air going through the radiator turned the fan enough to pump water around and only raise the temp a little bit. Anyway, that's another story.

I basically drove for 60-ish miles without a belt turning my alternator. Had a couple of starts in there, etc. When the temp finally got too hot (it was already running hotter than normal - just thought my thermostat was acting up), and I pulled over I noticed no belt. I put a new one on and continued on my merry way. Well, the ammeter showed that it was charging pretty hard. It stayed that way for about 100 miles. Went to get in the next day and start it, and the battery is completely dead. No dome light, no nothing.

Jumped in the 'burb to jump it, and the 'burb's battery is too weak to start the engine!

After jumping both with the Dodge Cummins, I found out that the '68's alternator is shot (or maybe the regulator). Won't charge. Wrapped it up to about 2000rpm, and when I turned on the headlights, the engine coughed and sputtered and almost would't run.

Still not sure what happened to the 'burb. Ran it for 20 minutes or so to put a charge on it, and it still wouldn't start.

They were parked right next to each other, so I figure the 'burb caught something from the pickup! Some kind of socio-electric disease I guess!