I asked this question on another thread where I was diagnosing strange idiot light behavior, but I think it needs a thread by itself.

What's the story on replacement alternators? When I look it up on Fastlane, it shows a Bosch replacement with an internal regulator meaning that the external regulator has to be bypassed. Has anyone replaced the original (which I'm pretty sure has an external regulator) with one from Fastlane without? What's involved? Should I get the existing one rebuilt or look for a rebuilt model with an external regulator?
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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13