Replace 60-year-old Voltage Regulator?

[Joe Flanagan]

Now that my firewall is painted, I can start mounting things on it. You don't know what a thrill this is for me. I got to thinking about the voltage regulator. I looked it up in my manual and was surprised to find how involved its insides are. I had no idea all that stuff was in there. Judging from the repair and maintenance info I found there, it seems sensible to just replace it with a new one (about fifty bucks) but I just thought I'd see what you guys have done.

[Jim Saraceno]

I've never had a problem with mine. When I detailed the engine compartment, I took the cover off, wire brushed it down, repainted it and put it back on.

[TodFitch]

I guess my question would be: Does it work properly?

If so, then as Jim suggests, clean up and paint the cover and put it back on.

Then, if you are still worried, go down to your local auto supply and buy a replacement and put that into your box of spares for the longer road trips.

[Young Ed]

I think I'd do as Tod suggested. They are easy to change later so I wouldnt buy one just because. Also if you do paint the cover put it back on the correct way. Might not be an issue with yours if you dont have all 3 wires on the same side like my 48. I painted mine and put it back on upsidedown. Then a few years later when I was having charging trouble I installed a new regulator. Because the cover was upsidedown the wires were mislabeled and I hooked the new one up wrong. And the next one and the next one and the next one. After going through all the new and good used ones in the supply I finally noticed the cover was upsidedown. Charging problem turned out to only be that the wires at the amp gauge were loose and not showing the charge that I had all along.

[michael.warshaw]

if it works leave it alone, i changed mine, took me 3 times to get one that worked, remeber it has to be polarized.

[greg g]

As complicated as they look they are a pretty simple analog device. adjustable, easy to maintain, and reliable as a rock. I agree withthe others however if the old one is not visually pleasing and it worth 50 bucks to have a nice new shiney one in there, knock yourself out, and keep the old one as a spare. Keep in mind however that your old one was made in the good old USA and the new one, well be it China. Mexico, Indonesia, etc. the materials and assembly of the new one probably won't be on the same level as the original one.

Edited October 23, 2009 by greg g

[greg g]

One doesn't polarize a regulator. The generator is polarized to match the grounding system of the vehicle. That the procedure takes place at the regulator seems to be a source of confusion as to which piece is beeing effected.

The generator has to be set up for either polarity. The generator will charge either way, however the voltage regulator has only one polarity.

[Norm's Coupe]

Joe,

I haven't replaced my voltage regulator on my coupe. Don't know how old it is, was on there when I bought the car in 1995. When I did my engine compartment, I simply painted the regulator cover to make it look good. I did buy a new one right after buying the car...........but, it's still in the box it came in. Figured I'd get as much out of the old one before changing them. It doesn't take much time or effort to change that should it go out all of a sudden. So........if you feel like you want to be safe, then buy a new one just in case. You may never need to change that old regulator though.

[Joe Flanagan]

Thanks for all the responses. That's a real education for me. I didn't realize they were so foolproof. Looking at the parts and the types of specs and adjustments in the manual it gave me the impression of an item that can be temperamental or easily put out of whack. To answer Tod's question, I don't know if mine works or not. My car has never run. Well, it last ran in 1982. The fact that it was made here at a time when we were actually making good things is encouraging,too. I like not having to risk buying something that was made in East Who-Knows-Where.

[desoto1939]

If you llok at you regulator the older ones and even the new ones should have a letter stamped into the tab that each wire connector.

They shoule be labl;ed as A, F and B. The B for the battery wire, The F for the Field and the A or G fromthe ground if i remember correctly from the generator. The cover should not matter which way it goes on unless it has the stamping onthe cover for the appropriate wire connetions.

Also beaware that when chnaging from an original reg to a newer replacement reg the tabs might have changed. I noticed this when I replaced the Autolite reg on my 39 Desoto . Just a point to watch out for.

rich Hartung

Desoto1939@aol.com

[Young Ed]

Rich mine was stamped on the cover. And upsidedown cover moved the top and bottom terminal labels.

[desoto1939]

Ed:

Yes this is a good lesson for everyone to beaware of with their cars. When I read you comments I thought that the letters were on the cover and everyone needs to be careful when taking the cover off.

It would have been nice if the manufacturer had made a slot or notch inthe base on in the cover so that you could not reverse the cover and this would have prevented this issue.

But hindsite is the momther of invention. This is a great forum for all of us mopar guys and I really like the different topics that come up and how everyone gets to part with their knowledge. This is how the old car hobby was ment to be.

take care,

rich HArtung

[Joe Flanagan]

More color sanding today but I couldn't keep my hands of the doggone voltage regulater. I had to see what it looked like inside.

Well, here is the outside:

Here's what it looks like inside. Hard to believe it's 60 years old. Or maybe it isn't. Maybe it was replaced somewhere along the line. But still, it looks like new:

The inside of the cover was like new as well:

I'm going to blast the cover and paint it. There's a bare metal base to it that the components are mounted on and it shows on the firewall. It's fairly rusty but I'm reluctant to blast it because it's so close to the insides of the thing. Thanks a lot, guys, for the pointers.

[Rodney Bullock]

Thanks for all the responses. That's a real education for me. I didn't realize they were so foolproof. Looking at the parts and the types of specs and adjustments in the manual it gave me the impression of an item that can be temperamental or easily put out of whack. To answer Tod's question, I don't know if mine works or not. My car has never run. Well, it last ran in 1982. The fact that it was made here at a time when we were actually making good things is encouraging,too. I like not having to risk buying something that was made in East Who-Knows-Where.

Hey Joe for peace of mind, replace it. They are fragile. It is an electric device that will work for the first five min. then fail. I have replaced mind twice since I had my coupe. I made some mistakes that's what hurt it. You will too however this forum will minimize that so start with a new one so youc an learn. Check NAPA they are a little cheaper:) Hey it's gonna rain again. I have been helping this guy wire his 1936 ford street rod you would love this thing. we worked into the night last night the air was so nice I drove home in the 61 Stude with the windows down " IT was heaven"

[Joe Flanagan]

Hey, Rodney. I know, the weather has been beautiful. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. I can't believe your wife is saying yes to another car. You have to be the luckiest man in the old car hobby. Are you going to Ohio soon?

[Rodney Bullock]

Yes, I am. The guy is sick and I think he needs the money. I have been talking to him since July. The car is nice and I don't have to do anything to it. I think in the next to weeks I will be going up or have someone go get it. Hey Joe you would be suprized at how far alittle KICKING and SCREAMING will get you. Then after she stopped she said well OK:rolleyes: Now something has to go. Maybe the lawn mower:o

[greg g]

What do you have your eye on now??? Last I knew you were looking at an old chysler that was a long way from nice.

[Young Ed]

Joe we had a plymouth club meeting yesterday at a guys house who restores cars. On his vice was a freshly black painted vr cover and on a piece of wood was the base painted silver. I would think with some simple masking you could easily paint the base and not get paint on the internals.

[Joe Flanagan]

Yes, Ed, that's what I was planning to do. May even do it today. Have to get the sandblaster out and if I can find the slightest excuse not to, well, you know how that goes.

[Normspeed]

Joe, even more important than painting the base is first hitting the mounting screw hole areas with a little sandpaper. As I recall, these need a good solid ground to operate the system properly. I once put a temporary regulator on a P15, just to start the car and move it in the driveway. I didn't tighten the mounting screws and the ammeter was jumping all over the place.

[Joe Flanagan]

Thanks Norm. There's been a lot of discussion here about tight/clean electrical connections so I have that in mind. I have the cover soaking in a phosphoric acid solution right now.

[RobertKB]

Any advice I would give has been given but I will summarize what I would do in one go. Paint cover black, paint base silver making sure you sand as Norm says for good contact. Use the original as it is likely OK but buy a new one as a spare. I sold an old one to a fellow forum member that had sat on a car for over thirty years and it worked just fine. Only trouble I have had with voltage regulators were with new ones. Good luck.