Another bad voltage regulator?

How often do y’all have to replace a voltage regulator?
Trying to get my 83 RamCharger on the road again and the new voltage regulator is evidently already shot after being in use for probably 2 hours of run time. Saw the voltage hit 18v at idle from the stock square back alternator.
Back when my Duster had an externally regulated alternator, after a couple miles the voltage would start spiking again.
All of the connections are good, and everything it grounded properly. Could this be an alternator problem? Or just a cheap Chinese junk regulator?
It seems like I have a lot of charging issues...