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working on a 1950 chevy pickup. had a 216 in it but took that out. I got a 235 out of a 1956 Belair. It did not have a generator when I got the engine. Getting ready to put it in the truck and am thinking of going with an alternator. Is there a model for the 1956 235 that I should be looking for? Anything else I should know about? I know I will have to change the 6V stuff on the truck itself but the engine was 12V so I will upgrade

The simplest conversion alternator is the internally-regulated "10-SI" which is available in several amperage ratings. Unless you're planning to run a lot of add-on accessories, a 65 amp alternator will have twice the capacity of most of the 12 volt generators that were original equipment on that engine. All that's required to wire the 10 SI is a heavy conductor to carry the charge current (8 or 10 gauge) from the alternator output terminal to the battery, and a short jumper wire to one of the terminals on the perimeter of the housing. It's the one on the right when looking at the rear of the alternator. If you want to run an "idiot light", the left terminal is the ground for the light. There's a 2-wire connector available for that hookup that's available from several vendors or on Ebay.
Jerry

Do I need the DA plug for that too?

The "DA" plug is the one I mentioned. There's nothing exotic about it. It's just a 2-wire plug that allows you to complete the excitation circuit and turn the regulator on. People just invent fancy names as an excuse to overcharge customers for the same thing that can be done with a couple of terminals and 3" of primary wire or a connector plug clipped from a wrecking yard wiring harness.
Jerry

I would only add that the excitation circuit needs to be hot only with key on. Do not take the circuit to an always hot connection. That will discharge your battery.

Why did GM wire millions of 10SI alternators with a constant hot connection, then?

http://alternatorparts.com/images/repair_manuals/10si-15si-type-116-136/figure0004.png

From a GM service manual
Jerry

Once again, Hotrod has corrected my error. From what I read, you can hook it directly to the output lug on the alternator. My experience said otherwise, being stuck in Atlanta with a dead battery after a roadside replacement of an alternator, and no, the battery was not the problem. Operator error, perhaps?

"New" doesn't always mean "Good" where electrical/electronic stuff is concerned. I've seen quite a few rebuilt alternators that are bad right out of the box. Atlanta is sort of like a little piece of "Noo Joisey" transplanted to the deep south! The only place I have ever had to put a hand on my "pocket rocket" was just south of Atlanta at a gas station beside I-75 late one night. A couple of street thugs tried to tag team me while I was pumping gas. Lifting my shirt tail and resting my hand on my holster was all it took to change their minds, however- - - -didn't even have to draw!
Jerry