What exactly is the "big three"

[CrownVic 15]

I have an 86 crown vic with a kicker 300 watt amp powering an IA 187 15.

When i have the volume or bass up i get some very noticable dimming from my interior and exterior lights. I think the stock alternator is only a sixty five amp. What i want to know is will this up grade help my dimming, and what exactly is it. I know its replacing wires with larger wire, but what wires should be replaced and how big should i go. I tried using the search feature but i guess its idiot proof.

[NB50 206]

Thread on it.

[CrazyKenKid 64]

the big 3 is:

Upgrading your ALT

upgrading your Battery

Getting a battery Bank (if needed)

and to some ppl (most) it is:

Upgrading all your wires to 1/0 gauge wire! total cost about 20-30$, what you need to do is

upgrade your grounds on your battery (ies)

upgrade your ground on your ALT

run a new wire from alt to front battery

VERY important dont' REMOVE any of your old (stock wiring) the big 3 is an add on i guess!!

[NB50 206]

Picture to help visualize.

[CrazyKenKid 64]

nice pic. Is there somethign over top of the blue wires? it looks very clean congrats!

[NB50 206]

nice pic. Is there somethign over top of the blue wires? it looks very clean congrats!

Thanks, that is just like a mesh wire loom, that is the way the kicker 1/0 amp kits come. It has it on like the first five feet of the wire.

[CrazyKenKid 64]

wow very nice of kicker! my next build might have to include some loom to make it look good and clean!

[CrazyKenKid 64]

found some!

http://cableorganizer.com/fray-resistant/

[NB50 206]

found some!

http://cableorganize...fray-resistant/

Yep that is what it is. Its kinda of expensive though, couldn't imagine it offers much more protection then the pvc coating on the wire doesn't already offer. Maybe a little extra cut protection and aesthetics but that's it.

[jonbearsmt 919]

i would try to find a bigger alt.. they did make them as high as 100 amp that year... try a police cruser or taxi model

[CrownVic 15]

Sorry i couldnt find the thread.

Thanks for the quick replies and pic. Is there a store chain that sells that size wire or would looking online be more cost effiecient?

I emailed a company about a HO alt they qouted me 550 plus shipping for a 200amp, but autozone has a 100 amp replacement for a reasonable price ill look into. I would have thought about that before hand but i didn't think an amp that small would draw that much current. This is supposed to be a temporary vehicle so i really didn't want to dump alot of money into things that couldn't transfer from this car thats why ive left the alt stock so far. Also would i need to make the power wire from my batt to my amp 1/0 to?

[jonbearsmt 919]

you dont need 0 gauge in your applacation... a 4 gauge would do fine.

[CrownVic 15]

ok thanks

[iamamp3pimp 34]

replace your battery

that should solve your issues with that small amount of power.