first, let me thank all of you for the help you've been so far. scrolling thru the forum has given this old guy a lot of needed info as he picks up the tools again...

here's what's been done since she had to be towed home:
*installed a "budget-priced" rebuilt alternator, but no charging;
*no "idiot light" either -- found out that is essential to charging;
*tested dash light and fuse -- both ok;
*by-passed the dash ass'y with a stand-alone light. power from the switched fuse in the panel, thru the light, directly to the alternator;
*still no light... found out the installer did not connect the ground. when i connected the ground, the light lit, but did not go out with engine start;
*i diagnosed the alternator to be the problem (integral regulator);
*brittany stepped up to the beck-arnley, 'lifetime-warranty' alternator, and i installed it myself;
*i couldn't find an obvious place to connect a ground wire to the alt, so i attached it to the bottom support bolt;
*i tested for ground continuity between the alt frame and the block -- good;
*i tested for continuity between the alt b+ wire and the batt+ cable -- good;
*with the key on, there is 1.6 volts at the d+ terminal on the alt. i don't know why it's so low, but i've read that it only needs a 'teeny bit of juice' to get things going;
*the batt shows 12.5 volts with the key off;
*the new idiot light comes on with the key, but stays on when started;
*there's only 11.5 volts across the batt when engine is running;
*i'm totally flummuxed... please help -- i don't have much hair left.
thanks, dave