Eliminating the Ext Voltage Regulator...

is there a way to eliminate this voltage regulator for the idiot lights on my 72 Skylark? Why do they need an internal regulator and a external one? what was buick thinking? I've gone through about 4 of these regulators any ideas?

 

regulators

Until about 1974 almost all GM cars had the external type regulator only, not both. You should not have two (internal and external). only one or the other.

The easiest way to convert from the external type to the internal type is with the proper alternator (one wire) that has the regulator built in and adding the proper jumper plug that is availble from Painless wiring.

By having two regulators that more than likely are not set to operate at the same voltages, will work the system very hard (that is why you have gone four so soon ou: ) and burn up the weakest link. :error:

If you wanted to rewire the engine compartment (that takes more than the average person's skills) than you could convert to the after 1974 style system.

 

Regulator.

Thanks for the reply.

I read in my motor's manual that a 72 Skylark had two regulators the one on the firewall was strictly for the idiot lights since i have no gauges. I'll try and find it in my book and write the exact info up here. Cause i have the 2 wire hook up plus the positive wire out the back. then i have the 4 wire regulator on the center of the firewall.

 

That's an externally regulated system, delco 10s alternator the two wire connector should have a blue and a white wire, and the four wires going into the regulator will be blue, white, brown and a large red wire, same as on my 68 GS400, I'm currently in the process of converting to a 1 wire alternator (higher capacity) model CS130 which eliminates the firewall regulator and its associated wiring. Typically the external regulated systems are reliable, you may have a short somewhere in wires of the charging system or your alternator is spiking and burning out the regulator.
Good Luck
Len

 

id it like this....

if the prongs on the plug run even with the ribs on the alt housing,it is an external alt.if they run against the ribs it is an internal.72 was SUPPOSED to be the first year of the internal.either way only one regulator,never two.you might have the external reg,hooked up to an internal alt if some di**head cliped the plug & changed it!!!ya never can tell what people do in their spare time:ball:

 

Re: id it like this....

Really?? Across the whole buick car line??? my manuals still show the external for the skylark./gs series but sure would be nice to ditch that system....

later
Tim

 

Here's how:

http://www.buickperformance.com/alternat.htm