No, it won't charge with a bad regulator. The field current that turns the alternator on originates with the regulator on the old external-regulated alternators. If it's got a square 2-pin plug into the back of the alternator, you're going to need an external regulator to make it work. The black box with four connections mounted either on the firewall or the radiator core support will have a battery voltage connection, a wire to the field coil connector on the regulator, another wire from the regulator the the alternator that's involved with turning the idiot light on and off, and a fourth wire that goes to the ignition switch, IIRC. It's been a VERY long time since I worked on one of these systems, as the 10SI internal regulated alternator works so much better.
To check for charging ability, just connect a jumper wire from the big battery voltage connector at the back of the alternator to the field wire of the square plug. I seem to remember it was blue on the original wire harness. It might be marked "F" on the housing beside that connector. With the field jumpered to battery voltage, the voltage will go to
15 or 16 volts if you rev the engine. Don't overdo it- - - -I've seen battery acid actually squirt out of the vent caps from a speeded-up alternator with full field current applied. If that works, go get yourself a regulator, and a wiring diagram!
Jerry
