Originally Posted by Seniorchief

Local auto parts stores like AutoZone can bench-test your alternator for free if you bring it in, check your local parts store in your area.

Originally Posted by OilyRotor16

Another thing I wanted to mention is that the connector for the alternator on a '79 has that 4-slot connector with 3 prongs inside, connector A-08 in the diagram above. My alternator doesn't have that; it has two wires in a two-prong connector, which you can kind of see in this picture:



I haven't checked, but I was wondering if that's an FB connector, which would mean the alternator is also from an FB? My connector is missing that white wire, so I was wondering if I'm having issues because of that?

Also, I did notice that weird difference between my voltage regulator and the spare one I have. The spare has the Mitsubishi logo on the front, just like all the others I've seen online, but even though I swapped that spare one into my car, I'm still having those same issues, so I haven't seen a difference between how the two regulators work to determine whether one is bad or not (or if they're both bad....) My parts car was sitting for years outside before I got it, so the regulator's back side is rusty, but I opened up the inside of it, and that rubber seal did it's job because everything looks brand new, so I would assume it would still work just fine despite being rusty on the outside?

I also haven't done a charging test on my battery, and the car doesn't run yet, so I could wait to start it up to see if the alternator is charging the battery, but I know I'm also trying to fix the fuel pump issue so I can start it up....

Is there a way to test whether the alternator is operating correctly without starting the car? And is there a way to test whether the voltage regulator is working? It would be ideal if I could test both but I'm just not sure if I can.
Hope you can follow all of that, sorry there's so much info and so many questions there 😅