Hey guys I have an 82 camaro with a swapped 73 nova 350 in it. Long story short, I was driving home and I had noticed my battery gauges have been all over the place the past couple weeks, I planned on getting to it but you guys know how it is, put things off and put em off l onger, so anyways I was coming home with my headlights on and my fan on (have a flip switch to control it) so anyways it basically dropped to the 10 amp mark on the way home with about 20 miles to go. So I got concerned pulled over with the engine running and popped the hood, it was all hooked up and fine. I go and turn my headlights back on and hear this squeeling, i use my turn signal, same effect. My belt looks fine, my wires look alright but the squeeling sounds like it was coming from the alternator region. I'm wondering if my battery is shot, or if my alternator is?I have one car right now and no access to a multimeter. I live int he country, closest walmart or autozone is 25 miles and I don't wanna take that chance. But on ten amps i think my battery went and my alternator was what it was running on because my gas mileage went to hell.I used 20 bucks worth of gas trying to get it that last 20 miles.
So what do you think guys? Battery, alternator, or any other opinion?

 

If you heard a squealing noise it was your belt slipping. I'd check that.

 

Belt looked fine, it only seems to squeal when the battery level dips below the half way mark. But now i'm getting basically no juice at all. can't go above ten amps unless I shut off fan,turn the lights off, rev it to like 4k in park and it moves a little bit higher. but no go otherwise. my gas mileage back was horrible making me think it was running on just the alternator.

 

Maybe take the belt off and see if the alternator spins freely.

 

ill give that a try tomorrow and see. I have another alternator and battery at a friends house, just need to see which ones screwed up. Just fixed the ends on my battery wires today because the gauge was fluctuating so much and it only took a few minutes.thought that would fix it but apparently now.