Hmm, I have the original generator in my 56 chevy truck and it works fine still. It stopped charging at the end of last summer and I took it to a guy who owns a shop that rebuilds starters,generators and altenators. For 40 dollars the guy changed the brushes (one was bad), resoldered the communicator, changed the bearing to a sealed non lube type and sandblasted the case and repainted it black like original. It looks like a NOS part and it works perfect. I don't see why everyone goes all out and spends money on altenators. I fully understand the differance between the two units by the way.