Well I pulled out the alternator and there was no nut for the pulley, so that thing managed to unscrew itself and come off, although the pulley is still in tact, which explains the rattling. It tested fine, and I figured out the source of all my trouble (I hope), a loose ground strap, the chassis to bellhousing ground. I tightened that up, put the alternator back in and I'm in business, the car started right up with the starter, I just gotta get that nut but I'll do that in the morning, Lowes is w/in walking distance.

So I'll see if my gauges are good, the fuel gauge was close to E which may or may not be true, but my gp light came on as it was supposed to and turned off as it was supposed to; and my tach read what it was supposed to read.

Thanks Colin, and everyone else in the forum! You guys rock! And Colin, there is a good possibility that my old alternator and regulator still work so you may wanna check that out.