Voltage Regulator - Solid State - Ammeter Needle Vibrating

[jeff68]

^Hmmm.  I never remember getting directions with my original VR715, so it is quite possible that I connected it before it had a ground (but I always disconnect the battery before doing any such work, so I'm not sure it would matter).  This time around, I'm going to make absolutely sure that I do it right.  This VR does have rubber mounts, so it uses a ground wire.

I never had any lost connection, battery or overcharging issues.

[69pace]

My mistake you said reference this thread http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=561.0;all so I though it was yours.

[jeff68]

I think I have this issue resolved.  In addition to cleaning all the connections, I installed a discreet ground wire from the pass side front fender ground (direct from battery neg side) over to the grounding screw for the VR.  I also noticed that the screw going into the well nut for mounting the VR did not make a nice tight connection with the ground wire terminal.  The shoulder on the screw bottomed-out.  So I added a star washer to tighten things up.  With the new VR715 installed as-is, I took it for a ride.

Voltage was rock-steady.  Idle was 14.02V, and it went up to 14.09V at 2000rpm.  Load or no load it always stayed about the same.  I only had about .05V difference between readings at the battery and readings at the alternator.

Now, do I swap these VR715 guts into my original VR???  I think I'm going to give it a shot.

[69pace]

Well I would try your already swapped unit and keep the new as is in case the Frankenstein-ed unit is in fact cooked in some other fashion not related to your flutter.

[jeff68]

^^ I got antsy last night and put the known working VR715 guts into my original VR.  I haven't driven the car, but idling and revving in the garage shows that Frankenstein is working the same as the unmolested VR715 did.  I probably should have done as you suggested first - it could have saved me a little work. 

I also have another brand new Wells VR715 that I will carry with me as a spare.

So, all is good for now.  Thanks to everyone for talking this through with me.