Cadillac Repair: Cadillac Brougham dElegance 88, cadillac brougham, amp alternator

Question
How you doing Tom? I purchased a 88 brougham about 5 months ago May, 06 from my father neighbor in North Carolina for $500.00. When I seen it...I'm not sure why I fell in love with it because it was made the same year I was born in. Now when I brought it the owner told me the exhaust manifold was tore and the gas meter stayed on full. He receive it from his nephew who had it sitting under an oak tree in Greensburg so the body needs a little repair. I had it sitting in garage until July, that's when I got a full tune up: spark plugs, oil change, etc., there was black stuff coming out the tail but the guy told me I just need to full it up and hit the highway since it haven't been driven in while. Now previously the red-light 'no charge' was on and I use to take short trips around town and then have problems starting it back up. so I replaced the battery and it road good. I got the exhaust fixed a week ago and had him test the alternator and he said it was dead. Now is there a special kind of alternator I'm supposed to purchase because he said since its a heavy car sometimes the alternator wouldn't last long. Any suggest about that and the gas meter?

Answer
The alternator is a 94 amp alternator which is plenty for an 88 year vehicle.

The gas gage may be just a loose small black ground wire that attaches to the top of the fuel tank and attaches with a 7mm screw to the frame near the gas tank. If the wire is OK, replace the fuel tank sending unit in the gas tank.