I just replaced my tired old generator with an alternator from vollks. Upon firing the car up, I noticed it was getting hot. Very hot. I can't touch it after 5 mins of running. The wires are completely cool. Any ideas?

Firstly, is there enough cooling air going through it? Have the new backing plates got the correct holes, are they correctly installed (not sure if you can get them wrong), is the fan on there and turning? (strange things happen) If there is air, then an alternator should get warm if you have all 600 watts of spotlights on, say 60 degrees, hot but you can hold your hand on it, and the wires will be warm and soft. If it’s got almost no load, the wires are cool, and it’s above 80 degrees, can’t keep your hand on it, then I’d say it’s faulty.
Good luck
Tony

Yea, shouldn't get that hot even under full load conditions. Either not being cooled properly or the unit is fault. The quality of some of the stuff Vollks sells isn't good.

The culprit! A crack in my pulley. Offset just enough to scrape on the alternator body and cause it to heat

Anyone got one they can sell me?

Also replied to your wanted thread.
98% sure I have one here.
In Brisbane, 4152.