The big 3..

[itsbmw]

....

[Ryan from Ohio]

4 ga is perfect.

Alt to battery, battery to ground, transmission to ground. Just run you wire alongside the factory. I would put the audio wire to the alt and grounds first then put the stock over it, then fasten the nuts/screws down.

Also zip tiies work well holding wires together.

I learned a long time ago NOT to hack the factory wiring unless necessary.

[clutch1]

Use 0ga if you wanna be a man :P

It's really easy though, for real. Check out a car audio forum and search teh FS threads, usually you can score 3 pieces of thick and cheap wire that work perfect for it, I did my big 3 in 0ga for like $15 :)

[itsbmw]

....

[Ryan from Ohio]

Nate from Excessive amperage recommends using 4 ga wire even with 300 Amp alts... I would stick with 4.

For the side post... You will need to pop the bolt thing out of the rubber terminal. Then cut away some rubber so the ring terminal will fit in and come out properly. Then insert the bolt thing.

[itsbmw]

....

[clutch1]

Just find a bolt on the engine or transmission.. a nice big one, and bolt the wire there, then bolt the wire to a bolt on the body somewhere.

If you can, find a place where GM already did it.. I couldn't find one on my Park Ave to I improvised, but you'll figure it out.

It's the green one.
http://www.isyougeekedup.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/big3.jpg

[Misuseofyou]

http://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp~TID~73496~PN~1

I haven't done this, though I have some 8 gauge lying around. Is it worth it when you still have the stock alternator? My lights dim when the base hits, but $500 is too much to upgrade it (until the alternator dies anyway). I doubt I could even get a third wire connected to my positive terminal; it was a bitch to get my two power wires on there.

[cherrington17]

then to go autozone (or a diff parts place) and get the terminal bolt extension.

[Ryan from Ohio]

lol as cherry said...

Its a very good and cheap upgrade. All power in your system AND in your car has to pass through these wires. Until you upgrade them they are your systems weakest link.

And when you do hunt them down you will be SHOCKED at how small they are...

[clutch1]

http://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp~TID~73496~PN~1

I haven't done this, though I have some 8 gauge lying around. Is it worth it when you still have the stock alternator? My lights dim when the base hits, but $500 is too much to upgrade it (until the alternator dies anyway). I doubt I could even get a third wire connected to my positive terminal; it was a bitch to get my two power wires on there.

My running voltage went up by .5 volts when I did mine w/ 0 gauge. Stock alty and such.

Where are you buying a bigger alternator for $500 big ones?! I wouldn't pay over $300 mang. Did you look up Mechman and Iraggi?

[Misuseofyou]

I looked it up on the parts computer at work, and being thoroughly discouraged by the price I decided to stick to the stock alt (didn't research it further). I've got like 15 feet of multi strand 8 gauge I salvaged one day, think thats thick enough? That price is in Canadian dollars btw.

[Ryan from Ohio]

www.motorcityreman.com

www.excessiveamperage.com

Car Godz can provide pulleys for more charge!

[cherrington17]

...and i thought i got ripped off when i paid $250..

you thought they were $500!?! ddaayyuummm

[Beholder88]

What's the point in running a gound to your transmission? Isn't the engine already grounded? Sorry, I've never done this before.

[itsbmw]

....

[cherrington17]

i never managed to find me tranny/engine to battery connection.

aftermath said "its really easy to find" blah blah blah (those were directions) and i ran out, looked... and saw nothing.

someone post a damn picture! :lol:

[clutch1]

You need to ground the tranny because that's the ground for the alternator. Obviously the alt HAS to be a closed system to generate, and the ground side goes from the case, bracket, engine, wire, body, wire, battery's - post.

Upgrading the + alt wire WONT do a thing until you upgrade the engine ground.. that's like having 0 gauge power wire and 10 gauge ground for an amp or something.

Cherry, don't feel bad we can't all be smart :p haha just kidding, I couldn't find one on my Buick, either, just make your own! there's plenty of random bolts and tuds on the body and engine to make use of.

[itsbmw]

How Do i get to the damn + terminal on the ALT..

EASILY! ;)

[cherrington17]

i usually have to take mine off (the alt) remove the boot (slide it down the existing wire) take the nut off, that holds the wire in place. put the new wire on, and put the old nut back over it. replace the boot.

easy.

[Ryan from Ohio]

If you have a V6 you should be slapped.

:lol:

Pull the rubber thing off the alternators post. The tranny wire is front on the car, where tranny bell housing meets block on a big bolt...

[cherrington17]

Pull the rubber thing off the alternators post. The tranny wire is front on the car, where tranny bell housing meets block on a big bolt...


that doesn't help at all. there are alot of things that i could consider to be what you just described.

[itsbmw]

i usually have to take mine off (the alt) remove the boot (slide it down the existing wire) take the nut off, that holds the wire in place. put the new wire on, and put the old nut back over it. replace the boot.

easy.

kk thanks. :lol: could I upgrade the chassis by using the bolt that holds the alternator on?

[clutch1]

Sure.

[Misuseofyou]

I just got quoted $365 for a 200 amp Alt, which comes to 456 Canadian before shipping. From excessiveamperage.com

[Ryan from Ohio]

Dude...

E Mail car Godz through the site here.

Its gonna take a bit for him to get back to you as he is moving...

[Misuseofyou]

You can see two bolts on my alternator in this picture, will they work for my alternator positive to battery positive wire? (For the big 3) That thing is really not accessible, and the only wires I see on it are attached to a clip and obviously too small to be handling current.

http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/8130/img0106.th.jpg (http://img502.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0106.jpg)

[cherrington17]

your not doing positive to positive for the big 3. your doing negative to negative.

[Misuseofyou]

I see you guys viewing! :ninja:

1) Battery negative to chassis
2) Alternator to battery positive
3) Chassis to engine

Thats from Sounddomain tutorial..
http://forum.sounddomain.com/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/312025/page/1#Post312025

[clutch1]

For the battery to alt, you NEED to get to the bolt on the rear of the alt that has the thick wire attached to it. I dunno what engine you have, but it looks like a pain lol.

For the alternator ground, I kind of doubt those little bolts that hold the shell together will work, try to get to a bracket bolt. It might be easier going from under the car? Not sure, poke around until you find something, that's really the only way to do it.

[Misuseofyou]

Its an 02 with an ecotec. If I took the black box thats attached to the intake manifold off I might be able to get to it. But, I might also screw something up being a noob and all. I'll go jack the bitch up and take a look from underneath.

[clutch1]

http://members.shaw.ca/warped00/bcjbody/images/zL61-1.jpg
Might help for ref where your goin under there

[Misuseofyou]

Well I can see the alternator but I cant reach my hand up there. Plus the car frame being a half inch away from my face makes me nervous. Fuck.

[Misuseofyou]

K I took off the black thing connected to the throttle body and I can just barely reach it. It has a rubber boot covering the bolt so it has to be the one. I'm off to the hardware store for a spade terminal. I doubt i'll be able to get the bolt back in, with such limited access, so I'm just going to loosen it and slip the spade terminal in.

Off topic Q: When you guys ditch this black box, what do you do to the hoses connected to it? Not the sensor.. Theres two black hoses connected to it and one looks like it passes oil from the top of the engine block.

[clutch1]

Way to go sir, enjoy the new big3 upgrade