The amp light is on in the '73 144. I checked with a voltmeter and it's definitely not charging. The regulator is this wierd looking thing that has some mention of a diode on the case and it only has 2 wires coming out. I have no idea how to troubleshoot this except to start substituting parts. Problem is, these 140s weren't in production long enough for me to have spares. Even with 21 Volvos laying around, I don't have this alternator or regulator anywhere. I haven't tried to source a new one but something tells me it's going to be a hundred bucks or more.

So being this is a $250 car and I'm not interested in making it a $400 car, I've got a few options. What do you think of the following?

Will a regular 1 wire AC/Delco (chevy) alternator bolt in place of the OEM alternator? I've got one of those laying around

Is the alternator on a B30 '75 164 the same as a B20 '73 144? I know where I can get one of those for free.

What about brushes? Can a person put brushes in one of these like on the 240 alternators? Maybe that's all that's wrong?

Thanks!


--
Volvo Farmer:

20 Volvos '58-'91