If the battery is still connected positive ground then the hot wire from the ignition switch should be connected to the negetive post on the coil and the wire to the distibutor goes on the positive post. [the distibutor grounds the coil so that needs to be the same as the battery.] When he is ready to install the altenator that will need to be changed to negetive ground. There could be some thing wrong with the generator or the regulator as to why it will not charge. If you wanted to go further on that Larry Harsin may be able to help on that, or have pattern to build a bracket for the altenator. His web site is listed in the links on this web site. I haven't worked on generators enough to give much advice on them.