4ks alternator problem

[marriott@Summa4.COM]

howdy,
here's an interesting situation:
1. start the car, the alternator doesn't "come up." rev the engine once to 
1800 or better and the alternator comes up and stays up until you shut off 
the car. has no trouble maintaining voltage under full electrical load 
(once it's "initiated"). temp light flashes, batt and brake light are 
illuminated.
2. start car, no alternator. shift into reverse (rev lights on), alternator 
comes up (at idle this time) and idiot lights go out and stay out _while 
still in reverse_. shift out of reverse, idiots come back on, alternator 
stays up until car is shut off.

any ideas? bad ground (where), bad diode (where), bad reg, 
fuse/link/circuit breaker.

btw, '86 4000s with low budget (55A, motorola?) alternator, ~new brushes 
and battery.

tia
james


James Marriott, BSME
Manchester, NH, USA
marriott@Summa4.COM
'64 Falcon Sprint Convertible--balanced & blueprinted V-8. GOES great. 
Stopping?
'86 4000S--the better half's commuter
'87 4000CSQ--H-stock auto-x