Ammeter pegged...

'73 FSM shows 12 AWG for standard alternators but '72 could have been different.

The type of crimp I'm talking about has one portion to squeeze the wire strands and a second set of wings to hold the insulation and helps reduce stress and strains. I don't know where this photo originally came from but its a illustration.

crimp-a-ring-terminal.jpg

You'll need an open barrel crimper anyway to replace the other bad wires and tbeir terminals.