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Megan,
For the headlight issue, make sure you have good ground connections on the right front inner fender. I think you will find 4 or 5 push-on connections to a "grounding plate" there. When the normal ground is "open", the current wanders thru the other filament (High), to the left side High, and to the left side grounding plate. If you find a right side problem, the left side should be checked too.
On the alternator -- as you learned, there is a connection from the instrument warning lights to the alternator. This is the required "starting current" for the alternator to begin "charging" (ie, putting out voltage higher than nominal battery voltage). This circuit is only required at start-up.
The warning light flickers mean that (momentarily) the alternator voltage is falling off, and battery voltage is powering the lights (just like when you turn the key ON, but the alternator hasn't moved yet).
This could be due to loose slipping alternator belts, the alternator B+ Red wire or ground wire connections (Don't mess with B+ connection until the battery negative has been disconnected). Or,less likely, it may be a slipping Harmonic Balancer, the big main pulley. The outer part of the HB is rubber-bonded to the center driving hub. With age, the rubber bond can separate and slip -- losing belt drive momentarily. This may also make a squealling noise, like slipping belts, and a hot rubber smell.
I'm more at home with 240s but hope this will help,
Bruce
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Bruce Young
'93 940-NA (current) — 240s (one V8) — 140s — 122s — since '63.
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