My altenator took a this eavning after 40 years of service on my 68 cuda. What aplication should I tell the guys at the parts store to get the highest output altenator that will bolt in and need no wiring changes? I need something tommorow so no fancy mail order stuff, the car is my daily driver.

With those restrictions rebuild the stocker.

how about min wiring changes?
If none, then just ask for the same one you have.
Max amps is like 45 I think for a round back.

If you don't mind adding a ground wire and buying a swing arm, and fabbing a couple of spacers, you can get 74 amps from a square back.

They sell a genaric GM swing arm for about 10 bucks at every autoparts store.
Replace your old swing arm with that and add a few spacers from the block so it lines up with the alt.
Put a ground wire on one of the fields and wire up the other field to your old field wire and you are done.
Ask for the 89 m-body alt for the non-cop car 318, like a fury or dippy.

If your wiring is stock I recommend just rebuilding yours.The parts places should have rebuild kits.

I just threw out a couple before I moved from tennessee

that's why I quit throwing stuff away.

Rock auto list a 78 amp alternator for 77 Chrysler New Yorker(BECK/ARNLEY Part # 1866002).You would have to ground one field but other than that it's a direct swap.I'm sure you can get one of these from your local parts store also.

I just picked up an altenator from o'reiley listed as a 70? amp altenator with the square back for a 75 duster. Don't matter witch one I ground does it? The one they listed for my car was 40 something amps and not in stock.

Also I was wondering, since the main wire runs through the amp meter before going to the battery (is that right?)would it be a good up grade to run a wire straight from the back of the altenator straight to the pos. terminal on the battery? Are there any cheap easy upgrades like that?

ground either field wire & yes running a wire from alt(batt) to batt positive is good but instead connect it to the starter relay as it's a better place to connect to.

What gauge wire or does any gauge help take some of the load off? I asume my amp gauge will no longer work if I do that?

8 gauge & not accurate now