Alternator/EZ Wiring upgrade?

Here's the plan - order 105amp 12SI Delco alternator, bracket and pulley from Quick Start Automotive Electric, EZ 21 harness from EZ Wiring, and two Bosch 30 amp all purpose relays (for headlights) from FLAPS. (Uncle Sam's sending some $ back that he borrowed throughout the year ). Besides heavier battery cables, is there anything else I'll need? Any reason to spend the extra bucks on a Painless wire harness? Any surprises or pitfalls to the plan?

 

No reason I can think of for the Painless unless you want the step-by-step instructions that are only vaguely useful as I recall. (you can DL the Painless manual and peruse it) If you aren't skeered of some thinking through wiring, then you'll be fine with the EZ and money ahead for a same-quality product.

You'll also want a whole slew of spade and ring connectors and the like, a good crimping tool, wire strippers, some dielectic gel (do NOT use silicone), and some heat shrink. I would slide a length of heat shrink over the wire, trim back the insulation, put some dielectic gel into the connector, slide the wire in, crimp, and cover it with the heat shrink. I'd cover the whole spade terminal and be sure to have a bunch of the gel inside to help prevent corrosion.

OH, and a multimeter or continuity checker are VERY handy.....

Biggest challenge was which wires were "acc" and which were always "hot", but that can be worked to your advantage once you sort it out.

HTH

 

X3

 

Yea the 21 circuit will be a waste of money as the stock jeep only used about 6, I have the 12 circuit and still have 3/4 circuits left over.
Why do you want the relays for the headlights the fuse block has them already on there.

 

Didn't know relays were included - the ad only says circuit breakers - Thanks for the heads-up!

Can't really tell what the fuse block looks like from the pics. What's the difference between the EZ 12 and the EZ Mini 12? Does the "regular" 12 use Buss type fuses?

:? :?

 

The EZ-12 uses standard size blade fuses, the mini are literally that half the size, not really a bonus in my book (YMMV) as the blocks are virtually the same size and the mini's are a little harder to remove because of size.
I am the one that actually started the EZ wire (I'm a tight butt) deal here as I bought my harness from them back in about 98-99 and posted on the original board when there was only about 8-12 of us (I should ask them for a sales comission). It is just as good as Centech and such, the main difference is its made as a street rod harness and is a family owned business so that helps keep the price down..

 

Mike, I'm not absolutely certain, but I don't believe that the EZ kit comes with relays except for the horn. At least mine didn't. Besides, isn't the point of relays to get the shortest possible distance between the lights and the battery? What benefit would it be to mount the relay near the fuse block?
Mount them in on the inner fender near the lights and you've got good strong current to the lights.

 

I'll have to look Thad maybe I'm wrong, I bought it so many years ago.

 

Read up here before doing any alternator work. Look in the tech section for a bunch of different articles on wiring upgrades. There are a lot of crappy, incorrect articles on the internet about wiring upgrades. This website is the only one I trust.

By the way, they sell a kit for the alternator wiring that is likely cheaper, more complete, and better than anything you'd get from painless. It also comes with a great instruction manual.

And one last heads up, if you call to order, be prepared to spend some time on the phone with the owner Mark (he's the one who usually answers). Real nice guy and extremely knowledgable, but man, can he talk..... (you may not get through the first few times you call as he may be on the line chewing another customer's ear off - be persistant and you'll get through)

http://www.madelectrical.com/

 

Mike, Thad, linckeil - good info. (That's why I come here!) MADelectrical.com is where I've found most of my wiring info - been reading a lot. Found out today, they have a "NEWSYSTEM" packaged kit which includes everything needed to get the most out of an alternator upgrade (changed my mind about FLAPS ) BTW - I'll go with the EZ-21 ($10 difference - who knows - maybe one day I'll have electric windows R) R) R) )

Anything else?

 

Man, I've been on a real electrical 'kick' for the last few months once reading the MAD articles and upgrading my alternator. I went with the 12SI and opted for a one wire hookup which is pretty much the easiest hookup imagineable.

Then forged on with twin relays for headlights...HUGE improvement in light output plus gauges are now brighter since removing that load from the main harness. Here's a few pictures of my latest gauge upgrades. Still working through a few grounding issues, but I'm making progress !!

Also, granted, MAD Electrical might be a little pricey, but great service and products. The heat-shrink is excellent, the Klein tools he recommends ( crimper and stripper/cutter ) ,are the best out there and make the job a lot easier..........

 

8) 8) 8)
:drool: :drool: :drool: :drool:


Where's the envy "smilie"?

 

What about the circuits for the onboard Margarita maker, coffee maker hot water heater and such R)

 

I am not sure what you are using for a gauge amps or volts , but make sure you switch it over to volts,

 

Man nice paint job on the dash and on the floor...did you do it?

 

Greg,

Actually, the dash is original paint......floorboards, windshield, left front fender, engine compartment are Pre-Val Mellow-Yellow.

BTW........I originally went with Stewart-Warner gauges but as you can see all are now Auto-Meter. Stewart Warner stll makes gauges, but their new ones are nowhere near the quality of their heyday in the 20's thru the 70's. I had to return an oil pressure gauge AND a voltmeter due to problems.

The Auto-Meter are excellent quality, built right here in the good ol' USA.

 

Might want to check out Sparky's article on headlamp relay instalation in the tech section.

 

Going there now - thanks