I went through the same thing you did, I got advice here and on the chevytalk chevy forum. Well here it is, apparently the alternator need a electric charge to make it turn on, the big red wire goes to the battery, that leaves the two other wires coming out of the side. One of those wires the red one goes to where the other big red wire is hooked up to in the back "BATT" the white wire is looped around and goes inside the cab through the firewall and is connected to a swiched "on" only hot connectiion on the fuse box. However cut this white wire somewhere between the alt and the fuse box and connect a small light bulb and socket. You need to find those light bulb sockets at autozone that have two wires, you know one that the wire is connected to the botton nipple of the light bulb and the other wire is connected to the side base of the light bulb. Here is the theory, when you turn the key to switched the current will go out the wire of the fuse box to the base of the bulb going inside the bulb and out the base nipple and out to the wire that goes to the alternator, causing the light bulb to light up. once you turn the key to crank the motor and the motor turns on soon the allternator turns on and the current goes back down this wire to where the light bulb and turns it off as long as the motor is running and the alternator is charging properly. when you shut off the motor or the alternator staarts to under charge the light bulb starts to flicker and turn on. this is like the idiot lights on the cars. This bulb is the resistance tthat is needed to start the alternator. Some folks install a resister about 10 amps I think instead of the light bulb. Any old 12 volt light bulb will work. Believe this works great. I think a guy on this forum called fifthhave sells the resistors, but the bulb is a good idea especially if you can install it in the dash without shorting it you have your very own idiot light that really serves a purpose. Class dismissed
kool 65
