thanks for all your help dave..
just an update..
1. i've finished my first valve adjustment, that kinda made up for the day i've spent. The satisfaction is very much welcomed (sheer force prevailed again!)
2. can you describe the path of travel for the charge from the alternator to the battery?.. what do the wires that go to the circuit board do?.. what does the red wire going to the starter do?.. if i can get a grasp of the route, maybe i can backtrack from the alternator with a voltmeter. My volt reading from the post does not fluctuate at all between idle and full throttle (back when the alternator was still in)
3. does that little resistor on the connector end of the alternator have anything to do with it?.. it was one part i had to pull off the old one and put on the new one (didn't know a way to test that one either). I was told by people at kregan that it's not an important part, but i'm not sure if i trust them.
4. after 2 showers and extensive scrubbing, i'm not a grease monkey anymore..
until tomorrow when i get my alternator back and have to put it back in..
thanks,
Jeff