big volts

"... I see no readings from the VR case."
This makes no sense. There must be a voltage reading. Do you mean you measure 0 V from VR case to BATT-? If so, that is good.

Did you try the "full field" test yet? That may determine if your alternator is OK.

You should not read a 3 V drop from BATT+ to the VR sense wire (blue). Was this another decimal point error? If true, the VR would think the alternator output is 3 V too low and command more (by increasing the voltage drop across the field), but your concern is not "voltage too high" (a more common problem).

It sounds like you have negligible voltage drop from alternator case to BATT- (good). But go back and measure that directly just to insure.