well it looks like the sense wire and diode did the trick
the sense wire to energize the alternator and get it started,
the diode to allow the engine to stop when I turn off the key.
gauge was bouncing between 12.5 and 14.2 at a very low rpm, between 400-700 rpms, and megasquirt says I was at 13.1 volts for the 10 seconds it ran. I call this a pass.
the voltmeter is connected to the acc input on the fuse panel, and megasquirt is connected straight to the battery.
I should have tried it at the alternator output, but I dont think there should be that much of a drop.
one thing I did fix(dont know if its related or not) is that the whole fusepanel- dashlighting headlights etc- was connected directly to the alternator, and not the the stud where the sense wire is connected. so it seems maybe it wasnt seeing any of that load. I fixed that but didnt get a chance to start the car.
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