What type of voltage regulator are you guys using these days?

I want to buy a fresh voltage regulator and have a few (old) aftermarket ones on the shelf and I wondered what your guys are using. This application is for my 71 GS 455. Thoughts?

Thanks

Mike

NJ

Almost done..

 

Just changed mine after it failed a couple weeks ago. Tried 2 of Carquest VR103. This is the core/coil style, Made in USA. Both were duds as they chattered & held the GEN light on at low RPM.
Talked to a member here, actually called him cross-country. Followed the advice. Bought a different brand from another supplier & problem solved.
Ended up with a solid state regulator # VR 715 by Victory Lap. Not sure where made.
Beauty of any replacement is you can drill the rivets from the cover & put your original Delco cover on with the original screws.

 

I just took mine to a local auto electric shop and he rebuilt it for me. I think he charged me about 25 bucks.

 

Boy,thats a lost art...how old is this guy?
I have the good points style made in USA ones if anyone needs one:TU:

 

Jamie glad to know you have the good regulators .

 

I use the electronic Wells VR715, from Auto Zone, less than 15 bucks, and, as stated above, the rivets can be removed, and the stock Delco cap installed.

Regards,

Milton

 

Mike,
I have a brand new one from year one if you want it. had it on my new motor for a short time till i upgraded (electric fans) to one of jamie's internal regulated 120amp altenators. Its a nice piece in perfect shape. let me know

mike

 

John Pirkle in Alabama restores them and replates in correct silver cad. These are date coded you know. So if you want originality this is the way to go. The originals had stagger lettered Delco
Remy
on them. New AC still available I think. 55 Amp was 111515 I think but has been superceded to 111519. Not 100% sure on those numbers just off the top of my head so double check.

 

Appreciate it guys.

Mike - Does your regulator have the staggered mount holes?

Dave - I'm impressed, you pulled thoses numbers out of thin air?

Again, thanks.


Mike

NJ

Almost done..

 

Yes it has the staggered mount holes. I attached a pic where you can kind of see it on my 71'. I can snap a pic or tow and post if you want. let me know.

Mike

 

Just don't as me about the theory of relativity or anything. A few part number in the old coconut is about as far as it goes.

 

Sorry Jim,i would take a points style any day of the week over solid state.If you can find a quality one,they are as reliable as you can get.it's getting harder every day to find them.Those SS ones are cheap for a reason,majority of them are made offshore with cheap components/labor. And it really doesnt take much to pop one & let the smoke escape.However,thats what most ap stores stock these days to each their own,all my cars have points style

 

I currently run 14 solid state Wells VR715 regulators on my fleet of 26 vehicles, the rest have internal regulator alternators, and I would NOT ever run a point regulator again, ever. Alternators live linger, run cooler just plain work better with the solid state regulators, and that is from my own personal experience. ALL mine work just fine, better than any of the systems ran with the stock point regs. Original Delco covers can be riveted to the new SS regs, they don't have to be screwed into place

Regards,

Milton

 

I can back that up 100% i had a solid state goe tits up and then went back to the points style. the alternator gave up. F THIS... pm'd jamie and went 105 internal reg with a nice adapter plug (included) where the external was:Brow:

I have never looked back... EVERYTHING works better now.

 

I'd have to say that there is no-one that has 100 percent success with either type regulator. To just go back and forth hashing out, over and over again, doesn't help.

All I can say is, with the stock regulator, I had more alternator and regulator failures than I like, and, lights that oscillated high, low, high, etc. Although those stock regulators are adjustable, there seem to be no happy medium, they either worked, fairly miserably, or they didn't.

That said, switching to the solid state regulator I mentioned above, stopped ALL the problems.

If others have had the same problems, only in reverse, I figure that is expectable, par for the course. However, to defend one type over another, simply becase you sell them, just isn't my way of doing things, nor the advice I would give anyone. My experiences come form a user, hands on experience, and they are solid, proven to myself, and that is my opinion, others have voiced their opinions, and that is the way it always should be.

For me, solid state, they have proven time and time again, that they work for me. Enough said.

Regards,

Milton

 

I used a solid state type for about 3 months and it gave up. I shook it and it rattled. I took cover off and all the little electodes just came pouring out all burned up. That was the last time I will use one of those pieces of $#!!

 

Mike

When I bought my 71 GS 350 with a 4 speed this is what my voltage regulator looked like. I bought the car in 1985 but I don't know if it's original or not, but it does look good and it's made of aluminum. I can't wait to hear what everyone is going to say about this one. Plus you can see behind the voltage regulator the firewall markings indicating the color of the car and top. The color is 53 and 19 which is cortez gold with a painted black steel top.

George

 

George, i think you should practice your shot-put technique and see who far you can chuck it. If it bounces back re-use it.

 

No one has mentioned just ditching the external regulator altogether and going to an alternator with an internal regulator.
Unless you are going the show judging route.

 

The rest of my vehicles, even the non-GM ones, use the internal regulator GM alternators, original size, and they, too, work brilliantly, no problems/issues. I would think that the people that have had a lot of problems with the solid state external regulators, had other issues not found before the regulator change, and would have had the same problems even with the point regulators. I've adjusted a lot of stock point regulators, isn't hard, isn't voodoo, but, it takes a bit of finesse and patience to get them right.

As I said, some have had great luck with the point regulators, others have had great luck with the solid state ones, just depends on other factors within the charging system and electrical system.

No hassles about it, run what you want to run.

Regards,

Milton