[jeffcoslacker]

I'm not sure if this applies to yours or not, but I remember some GM's around that year had two possibilities for alternators. One was a conventional Delco-style, with the "angular" shape, and one that looked more "ball-shaped" like a Japanese alternator. The Delco style ones were crap, and never lasted long. The ball-shaped ones lasted forever and never gave us any trouble. They both mounted the same, the only difference was the way the wiring came into the unit. There was a "jumper harness" adapter that just plugged onto the old wiring that allowed you to use the better style alternator if not factory equipped with that one. You might save having to do the job again by going with the better unit.