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I have a 1949 Super Eight with a 327 and I just installed a new Voltage Regulator. If the car has been sitting for a while (few days) and I start it up, the Voltage Regulator does not start working (i.e. Amp Gauge is showing discharge) for 1.5 to 2 minutes, then it starts working. If I turn off the engine, then restart it right away, the voltage regulator will still be working (i.e. Amp Gauge is showing charging). Then if I let the car sit until it is cold again, it does the same thing (does not work for a couple of minutes). Do I just need to get another Voltage Regulator or could there be something else going on? Thanks.

Have you tried polarizing the generator? The generator needs a residual bit of magnetism to start working which is established or reinforced by the polarizing procedure. One of the repair instructions say to repolarize any time something in the generator circuit such as the generator or regulator is worked on, changed or disconnected. It is also possible the regulator is not the correct one for the car. There are positive and negative ground regulators although no one has to the best of my knowledge adequately explained any difference in construction between them vs one that is labeled universal. If yours is the wrong one that might explain what is going on but that is only speculation.

In these 51 instructions from the SM, A terminal is labeled ARMature or GEN on the regulator, B terminal is BAT. With everything hooked up but engine off momentarily use a short jumper wire of 14 or 16ga to short the terminals together. There will be a small spark and the short does not need to be held more than a second or so. Be sure of the terminals used so you DO NOT inadvertently connect anything to the FLD terminal. It may not help if there is a problem with the regulator but done properly the procedure will not hurt anything either.

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Thanks for the response. Yes, I did polarize the generator after I installed the new Voltage Regulator and hooked the battery back up.

Could it be that the generator brushes themselves are sticking or the commutator dirty? If so, it might take a couple minutes to warm-up and make a good connection.

Thanks for the response. I have a new Voltage Regulator on order (since that is when the problem starting happening). If that does not fix it, I'll start looking at the Generator itself.

Installed a new Voltage Regulator and that fixed the issue. Thanks for everyone's input.