Have you ever rebuilt regulator/rectifiers? I knew a young lad who made a killing back in the 70's and 80's rebuilding GM Alternators with the internal diodes on an aftermarket basis.
The diodes just friction fit in holes in the case, and between the sloppy ground and heat from the alternator would go poof regularly. Since the diodes were metal case, he' put a dab of solder and his would last much longer, at about a third of the Chevy dealer price.
