specs:
1986 firebird with 350 transplant (has dual electric fans, stereo, electric fuel pump etc)

The alternator pulley got so hot on my car the other day, the belt burnt right off. I replaced the alternator with a brand new one that is meant to fit a 305 trans am and puts out about 78 amps. Everything is wired correctly, and I was just wondering if the alternator itself is supposed to be running fairly hot (almost too hot to touch). I remember with the old alternator, the belt itself would also get very hot, to the point that it was smoking and burnt off. The new belt does not do this. I know an alternator is supposed to run fairly hot, but I'm not running the stereo or anything else except the dual fans(when temp hits the specific point). At idle, and nothing but the fuel pump running, the alternator is just over 14 volts. If i turn everything on, including the stereo and fans, it drops to around 12.5V. Keep in mind, everything is new.