I am working on a 65 GTO. I just installed a remanufactured chrome alternator,new battery,and new voltage regulator. I have no juice in the car. No lights,ignition,nothing. I checked battery and have 12 volts,ground is good. I checked voltage at Bat.terminal on alternator and it dropped to 8.5.

After installing the alternator,the car started and ran for a while,about 10 minutes cut off,then it would not restart. Had dome light,but when I tried to turn on headlights lost all power.

Does this sound like alternator,or reg.problem? Broken wire? Is is possible to cross R and F terminals on alterntor during install and cause problem.

Anyone out there gone through problem before? Would appreciated any info and guidance on this problem.

Bill.  

Sounds like you have a burned fusible link, this is a section of wire in the main circuit between the starter positive post and the rest of the car, usually right near the starter or alternator. It is a thin wire soldered in line with the circuit that acts as a fuse when loads get too high. Check it first, it may have broken by twisting the wires during installation or started to melt if you accidently grounded it with the battery still hooked up, then all it takes is normal load to finish melting it. Of course the new alt could be bad and melted the link too. Start there, and work from the starter post towards the ignition, checking voltage at each connection along the way. Somewhere you will find that you have power at point A & B, but not at C, follow the wiring from B to C and find your break. One other thing, be sure to use fusible link wire to repair a blown link, don't think you can splice in a regular wire, this is the main fuse for the entire electrical system and you could burn your car to the ground. Just ask at your local auto parts store, they should carry it, you won't likely find it at Walmart. Also get a service manual and double check your wiring connections to the alt and regulator. Good luck!