Sounds almost exactly like what I went through about 3 months ago. Lots of guys here posted up, most urging me to keep the stock setup and trace out the problems. I'm really horrible with electricity so in some cases I pretended to know what they were talking about, but in the end I snuck out under the cover of darkness(darkside?)and bought a gm one wire.... I used a voltmeter under the dash. Install was clean and easy. I was hoping spurredon wouldn't see the alt in the photo I posted in my diesel swap. Building a bracket for it now for the diesel. Sorry, but my vote is for the one wire.......

 

Naw, spurry and buzzard, I don't know 'bout stayin' with that generator. If he has a bad armature or a shorted set of fields, he's gonna have way more into a generator than he would a self exciter one wire. Years ago you could replace your brushes, clean the comm. and go on down the road. Bear in mind, the paper insulation on those fields, and the mica and paper insulation in the armature is probably going to have considerably more deterioration than they did even 10 years ago... After all, that generator, unless he replaced it recently might be 50 years old. There's gotta be a rebuilder in Oregon. Get a hold of them and tell 'em you want a one wire. It won't let your lights go dim when you're sitting at a light with your blower fan on high. Most rebuilders (if you go in and talk to them) are more than happy to sell you a quality unit and answer any questions about how to hook it up. The money you spent on a reg. should be about half what you could've got a chev'y (oops that's politically in correct) 1 wire. I like GM 7127 for conversions cause the V reg manufacturers do a better job than the 7058 v regs.

 

well I made the switch.. Got a one wire and a universal mounting bracket and I am back on the road! So far I am very happy with it also. Thanks to all you who chimed in, all the feedback was helpful and very appreciated. Great to have a resource like this. Cheers!

 

I'm so ashamed, I've caused one of these little children to sin by suggesting the installation of a non-Ford part in Ford......Must go to confession.

Save your generator/alternator.Some day, like yours truly, you'll see the light and return to the fold......