Electrical: I noticed on my 59 Lark......

[Warren Webb]

The voltage regulator is mounted horizontally with the terminals facing up. Was this the way others were made? Mine is an early production car (October 24, 1958) so maybe this was how the early cars were assembled? What is a concern to me is with the regulator mounted this way the hood release cable comes into the engine compartment right next to the outboard terminal on the regulator. Any movement or vibration could cause a direct short especially now the car is over 55 years old & the rubber grommet the hood cable went through is long gone.

On both my Champs the regulator is mounted vertically with the terminals facing inboard- a lot safer & better way of doing it. Both my 60 Lark parts cars have long given up their regulators so I cant tell how they were mounted so I put this question to the forum.

[larkregal62]

How about your '60 lark conv., or is it one of the parts cars? My 62 is horizontal, but the terminals are down towards the fender well. The cable is above it.

[DEEPNHOCK]

(swag)
Think ease of OE assembly vs common sense and safe paractices.

(sent from iPhone)

[Warren Webb]

Went out to where I have the 60 convertible this morning & the regulator is mounted on it the same as on the Champs. Makes me think that perhaps the 59 was either replaced & put in the wrong (& dangerous) position rather than assembled that way. Either way it's a good idea to check how yours may be mounted & avoid a potential danger & fire.

[Skybolt]

My 59 Lark had the terminals facing in towards the engine. It was delivered to me with 29,700 miles and original equipment under the hood except for the air cleaner. I'm not sure whether the Delco equipped cars have different regulators than the Autolite equipped cars but my car came with all Delco electricals, distributor, starter, generator etc...
Looking at the original photos it has three bolt/screw mounting holes in the firewall, two at the top and one at the bottom. It has three terminals facing towards the centerline of the car, engine side, not up, down, or towards the drivers side fender.

[StudeRich]

Most sixes do have Autolite equipment and it is always ALL Electrical Units, but some years Delco was used sometimes only part of the production run.

On a '51 to '61 V8 CAR, you can count on it being all Delco, at least Originally.

I think Warren's may just be a poorly installed Replacement.

The '62 Larks are the worst for cables running over the Regulator and other components, they moved the Reg. to the inner Fender right under the Hood Release Cable, Terminals UP! At some point they started adding a Metal Shield placed over the Reg. Terminals.
Even the fix could be a problem.

[TWChamp]

It wouldn't be original but you could slit a piece of rubber hose to slip over the cable by the regulator, or you could use a piece of that slit plastic tube wrap for wires.

[Warren Webb]

My 59 Lark had the terminals facing in towards the engine. It was delivered to me with 29,700 miles and original equipment under the hood except for the air cleaner. I'm not sure whether the Delco equipped cars have different regulators than the Autolite equipped cars but my car came with all Delco electricals, distributor, starter, generator etc...
Looking at the original photos it has three bolt/screw mounting holes in the firewall, two at the top and one at the bottom. It has three terminals facing towards the centerline of the car, engine side, not up, down, or towards the drivers side fender.[ATTACH=CONFIG]40451[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]40451[/ATTACH]

Len, It looks like yours is the way it should be mounted. My hood release cable is coming through the hole just to the right of the regulator in your picture. I cant tell in your picture what is coming out of the left side of the regulator. I'll change mine this week as I'm pulling the newly installed V-8, installing a 63 power steering setup & welding in new floor pans.

[Xcalibur]

Yes, cover the vulnerable places, put in a new grommet and enjoy!