The stock mil alternators do not have sufficient cooling or temperature rated electronics, especially at idle. The voltage regulator/rectifier overheats and can fail in an open, full field, or short condition. The alternator in the beginning of this thread could have had a short to ground, and it wound up full field to try and keep up, and kept the short live until it melted. This is one common failure mode of this unit, amongst others. They just love to commit suicide.
TM is super helpful with their correspondence and help. The only part I don't like is that they are advertising Delco alternators, but not selling them. Their unit is a Chinese Delco clone. A genuine Delco will say Delco Remy on the rear of it. There is no way a genuine Delco can be had for $115 brand new, and the displayed pics are not Delco units. But, if TM is offering lifetime warranty of this unit, then it should be at least decent, and a great value for anybody in need of a replacement. It is very easy to fool people into the Delco thing because it is a copy. I am simply requesting that they advertise it correctly in saying it is a "Delco type" alternator, which is the most common way properly advertising such, without having to say "Chinese Delco copy".
On the Cummins 8.3, I have listed the civilian alternator mount bracket p/n in a 5T thread, available from Cummins. It is a cast iron bracket that accepts any J-180 short type alternator. I also have pics of others who have successfully added a second alternator in 12v or 24v to their serpentine driven 8.3. It is easy to do. I also sell genuine starters and genuine and clone alternators, in 12v, 24v, and double the alternator amperage if need be, for LDT/S, NHC-250, and 6CTA8.3 engines. Some recently listed in the classifieds.
TM's pricing and free bracketry offer is amazing. Hats off to them. I could not sell a clone alternator at that price and have a profit. Free shipping too? I would never look at my stock alternator again for all that. That is a deal and a half.