Favorite Voltage Regulator (Recommendations?)

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I replaced my battery, alternator, and voltage regulator about 2 years ago. That was a bit of an ordeal because I got I think 4 different alternators from NAPA until one of them worked (bad bearings, no output, etc).

Fast forward to today and I'm back having charging issues.

Battery won't crank the car the other day on my third stop near the house, I assume it's just too many short trips with all the lights and blowers going.

Get jump started, get home, with car running battery voltage is mid high 11's (great 1/4 mile ET, not good voltage).

After ignoring my problem for a couple of weeks I decide to dive into it...

Jump start car, battery begins charging, put battery on trickle charger, back in car, start car easily, voltage varies from about 12.2 (it was at 12.6 after charging before I started it) to low 15s.

Here is my plan:

Don't get a rebuilt alternator, get the alternator Alvah had when I got her rebuilt by pros locally (AB&E). I don't plan on swapping the alternator if it's just a bad regulator, but while I'm annoyed at low quality inexpensive junk parts I want to take care of potential future problems.

But I suspect my issue is the voltage regulator based on the irregular voltage.

What voltage regulator have you been most satisfied with? I'm really not looking to constantly replace this thing, I want quality and reliability. This is a daily driver for me.
 
electronic conversion if your oe looks like this one I have
CHRYSLER DODGE PLYMOUTH Voltage Regulator 12v Alternator Electronic | eBay

or go with a mopar style one in the pic if you have the style like this

dcc-77r06286_xl.jpeg
 
Here's how you test it.

Take a voltage reading at the battery just for reference, car not running.

Disconnect the green wire from the alternator and make a jumper wire that goes from the connector on the alternator to a good ground.

Turn on the headlights on high beam and start the car.

Check the voltage at the battery again. It should be 14-15 volts at minimum. If it's not, there's a problem with the alternator. If there is, the problem is either the voltage regulator or the wiring to the VR.

Don't run the car for long like this. Just long enough to check voltage.

This duplicates the FSM procedure except you are using the headlights to load the battery rather than the carbon pile. What we are doing is bypassing the VR to perform the test. The VR controls the alternator by completing the circuit in the field by grounding it.
 
I'LL BE THE FIRST TO SAY IF BIG JOHN EVER LEAVES THIS FORUM WE'RE SERIOUSLY ALL SCREWED!
 
I am a firm believer on having the old alternators, starters etc rebuilt by a good shop. More expensive but they last a lot longer. When my buddy put in the new engine in my wife's Fury wagon he got a starter from the local parts store. It lasted about 6-8 months and started sparking. I brought it to the rebuild shop and they told me they used cheap junk at the wire connections. They took care of it and it's been great.

As for a VR, I bought a bunch of them from FURYGT, a member here. Again, very happy and no issues.
 
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