FC regulator, optional?

[dbfc]

This is probably a dumb question, but can the voltage regulator be removed from an FC altogether and still run?

Either I can't recognize a voltage regulator from pictures, or my 59 FC station sedan is missing it altogether.  I'm assuming it should be a bosch unit, probably mounted along the right side of the engine compartment.

The generator light on the wagon came on last week, and I figured I'd take a look before taking it to the garage, worth a shot since this is the first car I've had a fighting chance of understanding under the hood for 15 years.  I was just starting to unpack the voltmeter when the neighbor poked her head under the hood and pointed out that the generator mount had loosened so the fan belt was hanging loose.

Chalk one up for the neighbor, she left feeling pretty good.  But I'd already noticed that the voltage regulator I was going to spend the next few hours testing didn't seem to be there.

I've only had the car a few months, and I'm discovering the good works (and not so good) of previous owners.  Perhaps cutting out the regulator was one of the not so good things.

If so, should I be in a hurry to scare up a replacement?

Thanks,

Dave
Hampton

[mcl1959]

Your car probably has an alternator with built in regulator.
If your car did not have a regulator, charging of the battery would be uncontrolled and would cause major problems.

An alternator would be about 6 inches long, made of aluminium and have a module at the back.  A generator would be 9 inches long and be made of steel with aluminium end caps either end.

Ken

[dbfc]

Thanks, I think you're right on that.  That would explain why the unit doesn't match any of the FC workbook descriptions.




I think it will take a while to work out the vintage of all the different parts of my FC!

Thanks