Never seen anything like that, but brand-new components can fail. Test your alternator before installing a new regulator, as a regulator failure can damage your alternator.
So I have checked with the wiring diagram for a 72 maverick along with a few others and I may have this wrong but I wanna run it by you guys F goes to field on alternator S goes to staitor on Alternator I goes to free and red wire to the wiring harness A goes to the battery post on the alternator from the alternator battery post I have this hooked up to the hot side of the relay connecting to the batter. anything wrong there?
I had problem with wires before. Aged and brittle. I upgraded to a 1 wire setup. 1 wire from alternator to battery. And a jumper wire. Allowed me to get rid of the external regulator and extra wires. Google "GM 1 wire alternator on SBF". And larger GM have the 100amp alts.
That butt connector spliced wiring looks like a fire waiting to happen. The swap to an early 90's 130 amp alternator is simple and will do away with the regulator and alternator harness.
I agree w/ prior post -- Get rid of all that wiring mess an get 1 wire. I have 130 amp one wire about 8 years, no issues, probably best/easy upgrades I've done. What I see in ur picture is a fire hazard -- worth $150.00 from potentially roasting your car.
