440six- when you say stab the meter probe into the VR, you mean into the plastic coated back? Will this hurt the VR?

Rapid/ 440six:
Here's an update on what I did so far:
1. Replaced the VR...twice- first with a napa then a better quality
2.Have 3 screws and 2 ground wires (clean rust free connections) to the VR
3.Rebuilt Bosch Alt
4.Tried a 2nd- 4 month old battery -fully charged
5.Both under hood wiring harnesses are brand new MH pieces
6. Pulled the dash harness, replaced all the heavy current wires and bypassed the bulkhead with soldered connections on the heavy current wires
7. Batt neg cable connects to alum water pump- all connection cleaned, plus extra jumper from bat neg to clean spot on rad yoke
8. New wire from batt pos to start relay
9. Tried 2 fusible links from start relay to "batt to dash harness" wire
10. Ground wire from alum head to fire wall

The ignition switch is one place I didn't look