Alternator Upgrade

[knsstang]

Hello all.. I have recently started driving my car again( Motorcycle's down) and I forgot how bad the/my charging system is in this car. I plan on doing the a 3g alternator upgrade and was wondering if anyone in here has down one on a McLaren?
The reason that I ask is because I swapped the lestik for a regular alternator years ago and I have a thick battery wire that was running to the lestik. Can I use that battery wire to run from the new alternator as it already goes to the starter relay. Thanks for any advice.
edit: I looked up the part #( I think it's POSITIVE CABLE (E8ZZ-14300-A) for your 1989 Ford Mustang LX with a 5.0L V8 CYLINDER, W/72 AMP BATTERY) so I think it will work. http://www.oemfordpart.com/ford/mustang ... tive-cable

[svo413]

That would apear to be the service replacement positive battery cable. The cable is certainly heavy enough and really has no affect on the cahargng output of the alternator. I have found another replacement cable which looks closer to the original. I will post some info on it. There is also new reproduction one out but I have not see it yet.

[svo413]

The e8zz cable uses a brass plated battery connector. It is certainly a quality design. I have found Motorcraft wc-8902 to be a closer match to the original. Just remove the corrogated tubing and the terminal cover and it will look just like the original except no number stamped on the cable. Prices for this part are pretty reasonable if you search eBay. A good used part may exceed $100.

[knsstang]

Does anyone know if the original one in the car is a 4gauge or 6gauge positive cable. All of the upgrades that i've read said use a 4gauge wire. I was thinking that if i already have one in the car, I don't have to buy a new one.

[svo413]

I'm not a big fan of the 3 g upgrade as there is plenty of amps available in the stock looking unit.

The main issues with making the upgrade is getting the right sized alternator to fit properly and then the wiring. The second, is a wiring issue iand to install a large enough wire from the 100 amp alternator to the common connection point (starter solenoid). The battery cable is not the weak point. The factory alternator charging wire is not capable of 100 amps. Also when adding a 100 amp power source, it would be best to have it fused to prevent a fire.

[knsstang]

I'm not a big fan of the 3 g upgrade as there is plenty of amps available in the stock looking unit.

The main issues with making the upgrade is getting the right sized alternator to fit properly and then the wiring. The second, is a wiring issue iand to install a large enough wire from the 100 amp alternator to the common connection point (starter solenoid). The battery cable is not the weak point. The factory alternator charging wire is not capable of 100 amps. Also when adding a 100 amp power source, it would be best to have it fused to prevent a fire.

Thanks...

[4-barrel Mike]

The 1G alternator in my '85 recently died. I subbed in a marginal 1G that had been sitting on the shelf for 20 years or more; it wasn't satisfactory.

I had planned on updating with a reasonably new 3G that had been in my 2.3T '90 Mustang, so now was the time. Using a barely used alternator-to-starter solenoid cable and alternator wiring harness from a '94 3.8l Mustang, the 3G was quickly and easily installed.

14+ volts at idle with maximum load (EVERYTHING turned on) makes the minor effort WELL worthwhile.

Mike