The possible culprit? I see the loose alternator post has the plastic bushing burnt, but the wires from the bulkhead to the alternator appear undamaged. It was putting out 14 volts when I was driving...perhaps under the load of trying to start it shorted internally? It's still hard to understand how only the exciter burnt up between the ignition switch and the bulkhead...
Assuming the alternator caused all this, how should I replace the exciter wire? It's 50 inches long in total, plus the small resistor coil; it is a single strand of stainless steel, 24 gauge according to the service manual, but the wiring diagram doesn't show the little coil resistor...
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78 White T/A, Carmine interior, Fisher T-tops, WS-6 package, 3.08 gears, a/c, rear discs. Original 403 with 300,000 miles replaced by new Pontiac 455 (roller everything, 6x-4 heads, Performer manifold, Hooker Headers, Hughes converter, Cliff's Q-jet) - I only get 12 mpg!
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