V-8 conversion question about alternator wiring.
6th Gear Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 9,092
From: las vegas, nv
go to a welding supply store, you can get thick cable cheap. and its the really high strand count. its what i use for all the main wiring in my car (grounds, from alt to battery, battery to starter solinoid)
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 429
From: Florida
The heavier gauge wire is not cheap because it has a lot of copper in it to move the max amps your alternator puts out. Say you have a 100amp alternator. That wire must be able to handle that load or it will heat up and melt. Don't skimp on this wire. If you make it too small, or too long for that matter, it will overheat and at worst, burn.
Another consideration is the terminals you are going to put on the ends of the wire. You can't use a simple yellow butt connector. This is not adequate for the loads. Your best bet is to figure out how long of a wire you want, and get it professionally made if you lack the tools to crimp and solder the ends on.
http://mustangefiswap.blogspot.com/
Another consideration is the terminals you are going to put on the ends of the wire. You can't use a simple yellow butt connector. This is not adequate for the loads. Your best bet is to figure out how long of a wire you want, and get it professionally made if you lack the tools to crimp and solder the ends on.
http://mustangefiswap.blogspot.com/
6th Gear Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 9,092
From: las vegas, nv
the alternator is from a foxbody. It has 6 wires going to it. It doesn't have the really big wire like the 3g. Problem is, the alternator has 6 wires going to it.lol We need each of these wires to be 7 feet long and then splice back into the harness. The 10 gauge wire is almost big enough but, it isn't. We want at least the size of the wire in the harness now. This is why we thought an extension cord word work.
i am trying to talk him into a 3g upgrade but, money is tight right now. Not that he doesn't have it but, he doesn't want to spend it unless has too.
i am trying to talk him into a 3g upgrade but, money is tight right now. Not that he doesn't have it but, he doesn't want to spend it unless has too.
tell him the stock alt is garbage....its the truth it is. you can get 3g alts from others cars i think. i thought i saw a list posted once. if so, im sure an alt from the junkyard would be cheap. if you get the 3g alt and the correct hardness, you only need 2 wires going to the alt, the 12v switched wire and then the power wire to the battery. thats what i have
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 18
From: ms
i have been helping a buddy build a race car for the past couple of months and we have finally hit a little snag. The is car is an 89 hatch 4cy. We got it converted over to the v-8 but, can't figure on the best route would be for the wiring on the alternator. The alternator on the 302 is on the opposite side of where it is on the 4 cylinder so, the wires from the harness are not long enough. We want to keep the wires hid so, we are going to hide it by going around the front of the car and then come in on the other fender.
The biggest gauge wire at every parts store is a 10 gauge and it is not very cheap. It doesn't look big enough either. We thought about buying a harness and cutting off what we need but, that really isn't cost effective either. SO, you may think I am crazy but, what about an extension cord from Lowes? Those are cheap and should be big enough. We are planning on having this car done in the next two weeks tops. So, what do you suggest we do.
thanks MF
The biggest gauge wire at every parts store is a 10 gauge and it is not very cheap. It doesn't look big enough either. We thought about buying a harness and cutting off what we need but, that really isn't cost effective either. SO, you may think I am crazy but, what about an extension cord from Lowes? Those are cheap and should be big enough. We are planning on having this car done in the next two weeks tops. So, what do you suggest we do.
thanks MF