Charging issue '70 Swinger

I replaced the blue and green field wires and connectors under the hood. I noticed there was no grounding strap from the engine to the body so I put one on.

I pulled the engine compartment plugs from the bulkhead connector and everything was super clean and looked good. No signs at all of corrosion, burning or melting or heat of any kind. In the passenger compartment everything is very clean. I didn't mess with the ammeter ring connectors. They are shiny and bright and look like they were installed yesterday. If it ain't broke....I did fabricate a bypass to run under the hood between the battery terminals on the alternator and the starter relay. I tried it out and it works great but took it off for now so I can observe and compare the ammeter's behavior from before and currently.

When I start it up the needle moves just to the right of the center line on the gauge. After running for a few minutes it comes back to center and sits within the white line just barely a hair to the right dead center. When I turn my lights on the needle flickers for fraction of a second and returns to the original position. It no longer makes a big wide swing.

The voltage at the battery when running is 14.9 on my meter- regardless of idle speed- lights on/off.