why would my voltage regulator keep getting hot and smoking?

 

Bad Grounds.....
Or Wiring and connections are old and corrosion has set in.

Here is some good reading when you have a chance... http://www.madelectrical.com/electrical-tech.shtml

 

checked all that already unless I missed something voltage regulator seems to be grounded good

 

Cheap aftermarket/offshore voltage regulator? Check charging voltage to make sure you are not going to blow up your battery!

 

I had 14.69 at the battery and 14.8 at the alt stud at a fast idle say 2000 rpm

 

Does it droop immediately after startup and return to 14.9 or a steady 14.9

 

Steady I think I'll have to recheck tomorrow

 

By the time I start it and put the meter on it it's steady

 

Not to interrupt.....
These work pretty darn good.... https://store.alternatorparts.com/partnoc8313.aspx

 

Ya but I want to find my problem before I smoke my whole harness. are those better than the old points style voltage regulators?

 

Oh... I see... Your using the early style Voltage Regulator ? Before 1967?

 

Ya 68

 

Those will get hot to the touch...... Check the wiring about 4 inch's away from the reg. and see if it still feels hot?

 

It actually started to smoke

 

So you have a good battery, it's been verified, correct?

your not trying run your junk with a dead battery are you?

 

Don't be offended my mopar junk makes 650hp on pump fuel.

 

Brand new and charged up

 

You cleaned the regulator ground and the body to engine ground also? Rite !!

 

Yep

 

Ok... Question... The new regulator gets warm and smokes?
If the answer is yes... That is somewhat normal to some extent.. But once all the newness burns off. It should not smoke anymore.
But the regulator you are using dose work all rite? Or is it giving you a charging issue?

 

I know something's not right cuz I'm getting 18 volts at my coil

 

Hummmmm... The 14,9 I could have lived with.... But 18.0 Volts ? That is way to much, That will hurt stuff..
Sounds like the regulator is not getting a signal back to release the charge....
Or the regulator might be stuck in "polarization mode".. If I remember rite.. You have tp polarize them when you first install them...
Not sure why you got 18.0 volt to the coil? That voltage should be cut down by a ballast resistor?

Might also try checking and/or adjusting the contacts on the regulator... Might just be out of adjustment range.