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Voltage Regulator?

6

68angrypony

Member
Hi All,

New here and new to the Mustang Restoration world. I wanted to find out if on a 68 mustang if you are suppose to have a voltage regulator. If so where would it be located and wired into? My 68 doesn't have one and I am wondering if I need one. Thinking it might have been the culprit that just burned out my ignitor II.

Thanks,

Jeremy
 
On a '68, I'm pretty certain that the VR bolts to the drivers side of the radiator support.... approx 2/3 of the way down from the top.

On Jeremy's '70 it would mount over on the passenger apron.
 
Oh crap, sorry Dave. You're right - I was directly describing where mine is on my '70! My bad. Sorry.

I think 'Dne has a post with her VR pictured correctly for her year.
 
Here is Dne's VR:

IMG_8565.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
"68angrypony" said:
New here and new to the Mustang Restoration world. I wanted to find out if on a 68 mustang if you are suppose to have a voltage regulator. If so where would it be located and wired into? My 68 doesn't have one and I am wondering if I need one. Thinking it might have been the culprit that just burned out my ignitor II.
Click to expand...

IF you have a stock alternator without a regulator, it would not charge at all. The regulator controls the current into the armature coils (wire 35 on the wiring diagrams). With no voltage there, almost no voltage will be generated at the stator (which is connected through the diodes to the batt terminal).

So, if you don't have an external regulator, and you are charging, you have a later model internal regulator alternator.
 
Well the car is a project car. So it hasn't moved since I owned it. I got the car with a 289 in it and bought a used 351c and dropped it in. I can start the engine in place by running a coil wire to the battery and running the wire right off the start and touching it to the starter solenoid. So I am not sure if I need a voltage regulator but I was assuming I might as some of the books info I have seen states their is a voltage regulator. If I do need one, what are my options? would something like the 6al box be in place of that? I'm a complete rookie learning all this stuff so any basics would help. Thank you.
 
You can pull the alternator off and take it into a local parts store like Auto Zone and have them check it. They should be able to tell you if it has an internal regulator. It sounds like it does not. You will most likely need a stock type unit, either one with regular points or an electronic type. The electronic type have a shorter cap. To keep the cleaner look, you can replace the alternator with a newer type that has an internal regulator. There is a small amount of wiring harness change for this.
 
would something like the 6al box be in place of that?
Click to expand...

No, the 6AL box is something completely different.

You've started the car by bypassing the ignition circuitry, not the charging system. These are two different things. You will need a voltage regulator, whether it's internal to the ALT or external. It's doubtful that your 351C 2V has an internally regulated alternator.
 
"68angrypony" said:
...just burned out my ignitor II.

I can start the engine in place by running a coil wire to the battery and running the wire right off the start and touching it to the starter solenoid.
Click to expand...

That is most likely what burned your ignitor II. IIRC, all ignitors require a ballast resistor in line with the coil to drop the max current (unless you are using their coil). Couldn't find the ignitor II manual on the pertronix website, but jumping straight to the batt bypassed the ballast resistor built into the wiring harness.
 
"apollard" said:
That is most likely what burned your ignitor II. IIRC, all ignitors require a ballast resistor in line with the coil to drop the max current (unless you are using their coil). Couldn't find the ignitor II manual on the pertronix website, but jumping straight to the batt bypassed the ballast resistor built into the wiring harness.
Click to expand...

I have a flame thrower two coil that I believe is what is best with an ignitor II. So with that said, I should get a voltage regulator from auto zone/ kragen? or is their better units out their? What is the best way to wire them in?

Also, I have a stock alternator from Auto zone that is maybe 1.5 years old and never used. Not sure if it is internally regulated or not.
 
Yes, I just recently installed the voltage regulator on Shag. Driver's side of radiator support. There are holes for the screws. You should have a connector from the wiring harness sitting there.
 
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