Thanks guys! It WAS a bad ground wire, even though it passed voltage, apparently it didn't pass enough voltage. The quick test was jumpering from one of the assembly bolts on the alt. body to the negative post, as indicated previously - instant voltage! And the Oil and Battery lights came back on.

Removed alternator, made a new wire, PM'd the voltage regulator contacts while I was there, and reinstalled the new wire on a visible more accessible post and she's good to go again!

Thanks much for your knowledge and patience!

Replace your regulator. Easy !

Hi,

To answer your conclusive question about the ground problem, it is yes!

With the key on position two the light of the cluster should all come on as it is a test for all the bulbs to burn.
The oil pressure light and the alternator lights are grounded through the engine block.

The alternator housing is unfortunately mounted on rubber mounts in three places. Two at the bottom and the adjustment bracket is also rubber suspended at the far end.

There needs to be a wire running from the alternator housing over to the engine block.
If it were connected you should be able to read voltage on the D+ wire.
If the D+ is disconnected from anything the light on the cluster will not light up.
If you touch that wire to the alternator's housing it should light up.
To a wire from the battery negative it should light up!
Same goes if you touch it ant what's a grounded point and with the use of a voltage meter get a reading. In amperage mode, (series) it will be a very low current draw due to the light bulb in the circuit.

If you are not getting any results then you have an open circuit and it's not working.
The light goes off after an engine start because the alternator's exciter diode circuit has gotten enough tickle current fron the light circuit.
When this happens, the opposing power now going into the alternator's winding. This creates current that is going towards the battery in to directions! B+ and D+.
Most of it towards the battery but a little goes towards the light bulb. This make the light, stop burning or conducting to ground.

It takes only a small amount to turn out the light. It does not mean everything is hunky dory!
It just means it's doing a little charging.
This is why is best to have a dash voltage meter so you can monitor the system better.
The dash light is called an idiot light, if you trust it!
It may not be enough if you don't see on your voltmeter at least 13.2 to 14.2 volts or more than one volt above the batteries resting voltage. It needs that much to push it into the battery.
The regulators job is to be the middle man and he works well ONLY with a good ground.
Resting, is after it has not been on a charging circuit for quite sometime or has been used recently to draw of residual charge.

I hope I have enLIGHTen your needs to know more about grounds!
(:-)

Phil

The alternator does require a ground to engine at the motor mount.
Dan