Big 3 Upgrade

[ArtsC6z06]

Hello All,
Im new to this forum, and im yes i been doing alot of research on the big 3 upgrade for my 2013 tahoe. I recently purchased a 250 AMP alternator (Only have 1 battery, and will be installing a amp soon), and my question is, does anyone in this forum, or know of a website that sells the cables as a kit pre-made? i work alot of shift work and dont really have the time to take off, measure, cut, and crimp cables at this time. Thanks in advance!

Art

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Welcome to the Forum from NH.

Lots of knowledgeable folks here who freely share their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. Knowledge is power.

I hope that you will become a participating member in the Forum's discussions.

Pics of the truck, please. If we can't see it, it does not exist.

A simple Google search shows many Big 3 kits are available that will work for your Tahoe. Unfortunately, they are not necessarily cut to the 'exact' length that will perfectly fit your Tahoe.

Skar Audio makes a Big 3 kit that has one one of each wire crimped and shrink wrapped, and the parts needed to crimp and shrink wrap the other ends of the wires, once you have cut them to the proper length. Kind of a 'halfway done for you kit'.

Other folks on this Forum may have some additional information on 'custom fit' kits for your Tahoe.

 

[Doubeleive]

tons of them but buyer beware..... some are copper/tin plate junk garbage.....
if you have a place around you that sells refurbished car batteries they usually also sell or make cables (any length or size you want) on the spot which are usually pretty good quality.
most car audio shops will also make cables as requested.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Great suggestion on the audio shop. My audio shop has spools and spools of heavy gauge wire, along with proper connectors for them.

 

[Coveman]

Our last local hardware store had cable by the foot but went out of business last year. The big boxes sell certain cables by the foot if you can track someone down to unlock the cage.

 

[Fless]

Just be careful that the upgraded grounds are supplementing, not replacing (by function) the OE grounds. You don't want to create any ground loops.

 

[ArtsC6z06]

Thanks for the tips guys. Yall are correct, i been reading on some of the websites installation instructions and they all say that the upgraded cables need to be ran along with the OE cables, but i can get away with running a upgraded engine block to firewall, and battery to engine block correct?

 

[Fless]

As long as you're replacing the OE cables in essentially the same connection positions.

 

[fozzi58]

You can easily add a couple of fresh ground cables using 8 gauge wire - preferrable Oxygen Free Copper (OFC). You can pick that up at any local car audio shop or even best buy and order a couple of quality copper ring terminals.

I added an engine to firewall, firewall to frame, frame to engine and it only took about two hours and that included measuing crimpoing cutting heat shrink and zip tying all the wires in place. That will def get rid of most of the electrical gremlins you have.

I personally REPLACED the OEM ground cable and made my own using 0 gauge OFC cable and custom ends but that's just my preference.

 

[jaywestfall]

I did the upgrades (Big 4 to be exact) in 0 gauge OFC cable, but kept the stock factory cables in place. My alternator is 220 Amp. Adding a 50 watt RMS amp and Double Din touchscreen once I can afford to get the installer hired. Already have all the equipment.

Welcome to the forum, as well, @ArtsC6z06!

 

[waveryd]

I make my own cables but have also used batterycablesusa.com. Good quality US made cable and good crimps.