So I've tried just about everything to get my 22r 87 pickup to charge properly. I changed the brushes on my alternator which didn't fix the problem, changed the alternator which just changed the problem.

Now instead of my lights flickering on and off. After the engine heats up the lights come on very dim and get a little bit brighter when the engine is idling. Any thoughts?

 

You probably replaced parts that were not the cause of your problem.

First inspect your wiring to make sure you have good solid connection with bare metal contacting bare metal, no corrosion on contacts, no worn out insulation, no frayed wires, no after-market crap, hack job from previous owner.

You like your truck as if it;s your baby? Do not assume. Do not trust what others who have looked at it say. See for yourself.

Then, does your alt (strange that you have a 22R on 97) have internal or external regulator? IF internal, see chargin system explained in my sig and, do voltage checks and let us know what you find. Then we'll go from there.

 

I will check the voltages tomorrow. Also it's an 87 not 97...

 

looks like I'm just a little over 12 v when my engine is running.

 

I messed with a little wire that seems frayed that goes from the nut on the top of the alternator to some kind of connection behind the oil dip stick and it sparked and my wire going from my battery to my 7.5 a charging fuse broke... I reattached it using a little wire splicey deal... now it's at 12 v. before it was around 13... Oops...

 

You need to be more detailed; We may be thousands of miles away from you.

Where did you measure 12V? Anyway, Exactly 12.0 Volts is too low. Got picture of that wire? There should be no "little wire" on that bolt on the alternator, only a thick white wire.

You need to measure voltages at the connector, too.
What do you measure at "L" at "IG" at "S".