1st gen 105 amp bolt in alternator.

Do you think you have to run another thicker ground strap wire from negative side of the battery to the frame or body?
The positive battery to the alternator is a given it need a thicker wire.

 

The ground wire from the battery to the engine is a 4 gauge and the alternator charge wire is a 10 gauge, so the ground should be good.

 

I don't believe so. You can see the red wire on the left going to the alternator. The big fat one disappears, but it's too big for fuse box. You can also see a relatively little white wire on the side, that matches up with the white wire going to the fuse box on my truck.

 

But why though? What's the point of that

 

Improve current capacity

 

Starters are the most current hungry device and so providing a nice fat path for that current will minimize voltage drop and allow the starter motor to have it's maximum torque. Probably not a big deal 99% of the time, but it might be nice on a cold day.

 

Do you know what gauge the stock starter cable is that goes to the battery?

Trying to find some new battery terminals where the wires go into the housing but they have various
gauge sizes

 

This is a great upgrade to hear about. Definitely gonna have to save some money to do this

 

I should be 4 gauge, that's pretty much OE for most vehicles.

 

Perfect, I’m looking at the options for the 6 gauge cable and need to figure out what size ring terminal to get that attaches to the alternator in order for me to order the correct cable.

Do you happen to remember what size the nut is on that alternator?
7m=1/4,
8mm=5/16,
10mm=3/8”?

 

I used 1/4 and it was a good fit.

 

It's the windings. All the voltage regulator does is make sure you have 14.2 DC volts. It has nothing to do with rated amperage output. You can also take your stock alternator to an alternator repair shop and have them overwind it for higher amperage output.

 

I get that.. I just don't see what the point is. I can understand needing it for a higher output alternator, but the starter... well if it ain't broke don't fix it. Not like people are swapping the starter with a "high output" starter. Unless they have the cold weather package on their truck, in which case I do not know if Toyota even bothered to change the wire gauge for the cold-rated starter. 1.4Kw vs 1.8Kw or something like that.

 

Yeah, I agree. There are a ton of vehicle modifications that make no actual sense. At least this one has a plausible one, even if it's not useful to 99.99%

 

yeah, if what others are saying is true (the starter wire is 4 ga), then even a 2.0Kw starter is going to pull 166 amps, which is well within the boundaries of a 4 gauge wire.

 

I was looking at mine this morning, the ground is four gauge but the positive is a 2 gauge.

 

Well heck, I won't be touching my starter wires then. I'll just do the alternator wires.

 

The stock starter wire is plenty big enough and rarely needs upgrade. Comes directly from the battery + with no interference.

 

Yea no need to mess with the starter wire unless you have issues

 

Speaking from experience I agree with members Empty_Lord and Se7enine. Last year when doing the big three I used 4 Gauge AWG from the starter, directly to the battery. I piggybacked on the oem starter wire. My "thinking" was I would notice a faster start but I really can't tell a difference. When I say faster start, I mean as the starter spinning over faster. Again, I can't tell a difference.