The voltage regulator on my 1.8L was hooked up this way before (upper left hand corner of photo)...

Click to view attachment

The engine was carbed and I'm putting the fuel injection back. So obviously I want to put the VR back where it supposed to go on the relay panel.

Anyone comment on why the VR was hooked up that way?

Bad relay board maybe? My car is carb'd and the VR is in the normal spot.

-Mike

the VR is "backwards", that is, it's 180 degrees reversed. the bottom of the VR and the connectors should be on the board not off as shown. now the reason why the PO did it this way may have been to fix something.

You can wire it that way. The alternator connector usually connects to the relay board. The relay board has internal wiring that connector the three prong plug to the actual VR. It's just a straight passthrough. So if there was a failure in the relay board for those contacts, then this would be a suitable 'fix'.

I confirmed that on the electrical schematic in Haynes. Thanks!