update:

I ended up buying a new generator.  Will keep my noisy bearing one as back-up and perhaps have a go at replacing the bearing

So the new ones come with METRIC thread for the adjustment bracket attachment point.  of course the shaft and nut are also metric.  As far as I know these are the only 2 metric pieces of nut/bolt on my 62

Converting it to Pos isn't an issue.....was just curious if that would cause the ign light to stay on ( if it was Pos )

It's 30-odd years since I converted the Elf to negative earth (not something I'd bother doing again) and I seem to remember it was simply a case of swapping the input/output wires in the voltage regulator and dabbing the +ve & -ve terminals onto the dynamo to repolarise it.

Checking the polarity of the dynamo ought to be easy enough - spin it up with a multimeter attached and see if it registers +ve or -ve voltage.

I've converted several cars from positive ground to negative ground and not had a problem. I would go for a new alternator and see what happens. You might have a positive ground alternator, they do make them.

Car is a 62 but has been switched to Neg earth ( before I got it )

Every thing works great, charges well etc. but the generator is loud as hell....bearing

I had a fairly clean looking generator in stash of parts and turns nice and quiet.....thought I'd try it.

After install, started it up and the Ign light stayed on.......so uninstalled and put old back on....for now.

Does this mean the one I tried is pooched....or could it mean it's pos earth....how can I check?

New one is only $150....but thought I'd give it a go