shorting out

[75 C20]

last nite i was comin home- when i took off my battery decided to meet my inner fender- casuing my truck to die and battery to melt the terminals off. i ogt it goin- the battery still turned the truck over enough to fire it up- by me holding the negative cable to the engine. but i just taped up my wire just to get home- but on the way home if i let my engine go below 2000 rpm my lights would flicker and if i used my turnsignals or brake lights they would also flicker. think that my altenator may have gotten ruined when my truck had a complete dead short??

edit* this is on my 79 with a 350

[VileZambonie]

No hold down?

[KojaK 79k10]

If your battery was not working properly then it will not hold a charge, hence the flickering lights. it sounds as if your alternator had just enough power to keep you going. a new battery sounds like a good idea but you can have your alternator tested also.

[Lt.Del]

I'd replace battery first.  Then, once it's going, get a voltmeter on the puppy and see if you are getting at least 14 volts from alt.  If not, well, another alt may be in order.  Do you have a volt guage on truck instrument cluster?  Look at it while engine is on.

[75 C20]

new battery fixed her all up i tested my alt at work tonight and it tested out good.
thanks for the responses