Volvo: Wrong Alternator?, hook ups, wire hook

Question
I am a total idiot! My battery was dead when I went out to start it the other morning. I started checking for a battery drain. There was none. No charge was being pulled from the battery when the ignition was turned off. I went to "Kragen" to check my alternator he hooked up his multimeter to my battery, I was getting 0-ZERO amount of charge from my alternator, he said I need a new one. I bought one and allowed a friend install it for me - big mistake! $125 later, I have come to the conclusion that it wasn't the alternator but it was the ground wire. After he installs the alternator, then he tells me that the ground wire was all ate up and falling apart. The alternator he installed didn't have a ground wire connection, so he figured it wasn't necessary "extra parts." Now he is going to take the long screw that is the grounding bolt, off of the old alternator and put it on the new one. IS THAT GOING TO WORK? OR DID WE GET THE WRONG ALTERNATOR? My neighbor is insisting that if we just rest the alternator up against the body of the car we won't have to ground it. IS THAT TRUE? I am new at this, but it all sounds a little "micky mouse" to me.


Answer
Judy,
Does the alt look the same have the same mounting points and wire hook ups? If it does then it is the right one. The alt needs to be grounded because it is mounted in rubber bushings. Yes leaning it against the block may ground it but the wire is the right way. I agree leaning that alt against the body or the block is indeed a bit "Micky".