charging problem self inflicted .

If you had any of the field connections in place you could have hurt the regulator. I'm pretty sure those use an isolated field just like the older Mopars on here. Just check continuity---with no vehicle wiring connected to the field terminals, you should have continuity between the two, and open to ground. You should be able to ground either terminal, and jumper 12V into it and see a small spark in sudued light. I don't know what the current draw is on those, but surely it's 2-4A maybe up to 6A or so.

I'm not very familiar with those, you have a link to a diagram? Does it use a firewall mount VR?