I have upgraded the fuel system, fuel pumps, added gauges and done a whole new stereo with subs. I want to upgrade the alt. so it will handle all this. I have decided on PA Perfomance brand but I am not sure what size to get. Should I go with the 130, 170 or 200 amp. Thanks.

 

your stock unit is 130amps. I would get a 200 amp as it doesn't draw anymore power than a 170 or a 130. There is a company on ebay that has 200 amps for $199 shipped with a warranty. As for the stereo, I have a Batcap (brand name) it was about $130 off ebay it's the 300 series. I have almost 4,000watts and my lights do not dim at all at idle. It has enough power to start my car by itself. It's equivilent to 300cca but it charges muchfaster than a battery. I would highly reccomend buying one of these as well or even more so than an upgraded alternator. Some HO alt. have a little less output at idle than stocker units but surpass them around 1k rpms. I would ask specific questions before you buy. Also, if you have underdrive pulleys that will def mess up the output! Good luck

 

Thanks. I am not sure about the e-bay ones. I have heard a few bad things. I am kind of set on the PA Performance ones. They are about a 150 more but make good amps down low. So you think the 200 is the way to go?

 

200 all the way! it's only half again as much as the stock unit. The 170 is only 40 more amps. Think about all the fuses for your amps and the fuse for your t-rex if you have one? Just the added acessories alone put you up to the 170 as a stock type replacement in comparison. The 200 will give you extra ooomph. Always go a little bit bigger than needed. There's never any reprocusions! I wanted a 12x14 shed. I was talked into a 14x16 which seems twice as large and trust me when I say this, I wish I went bigger...lol The 200 amp alt. will not lower hp ratings if that's what your worried about. Check this out before you pay tons of $$$$$$$$
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MUSTA...spagenameZWDVW

It says Brand new meaning every piece. Not a rebuild! If an alternator is going to burn up it usually happens within the first 6 months unless younever drive your car. If you feel strongly about PA, I would see what their warranty is because that's all your paying for.
Also, I simply added a 10ga. wire from the alt. to the junction on the fuse box and added a 10ga. wire from the neg battery terminal to the frame of the car. You must do this or you will not get any benefits of the alt. The right way is to buy a kit or run a new 4ga. wire. You need the neg. beefed up too! The 10ga. add-a-wire was quick and easy and is just as efficient. I used a piece of my stereo wire that I had layin around.
Another thing. BraMas on this forums does nice powdercoat work on things like that. Maybe you can hook up with him? Have it shipped right to his door if they allow that? He's a great guy and very trustworthy. He has a 32v so this alt. wouldn't do him and good....lol

 

i have the pa 170 amp chrome alternator. it works out great for me. i have 2 10 inch bazooka tubes along with underdrive pulleys, pioneer tv head unit, cams, and my alternator is fine holds a charge at 14 on my autometer volt gauge.

 

Thats great. Where did you end up buying it? And for how much?