What is the stock amp rating for an alternator for an 82 z28 thats carbed? becuz mine is on its way out and i would like to find something with more then 65 amps to it. if anyone can help me really quick that would be great. i also have a system in my car and im runnin a 400watt amp and 200 watt amp also and the head unit uses 50watts per channel. what other cars have beter power rateings but yet that we can use in our cars.

 

If you're running a big stereo like that, I'd reccomend that you buy a good one from summit. IIRC they have 80 amp alternators for a little less than $100.

 

Look on the rear half of the alternator case. The output current rating should be stamped there.

The alternator you'll need to run a 600W load will have to output 50A, and that's at anytime you are using the equipment, like at idle, not just peak output. To find one that might keep up with that load, you should consider a 140A or larger.

Another thing that would help is to install a large capacitor on the power line, like a 1 Farad. that sounds huge, but I've seen them on mobile audio installations. They're about the size of another battery.

Something elses to remember is that most manufactureres rate their equipment at peak continuous wattage, not RMS output power, like they used to. That means that your amp cannot really push a continuous 400W - that's only the peak switching current of the outpit transistors. An old 80W/channel Pioneer or Marantz discrete component amp would smoke the MOSFET finals on most modern amps in a head-to-head showdown. Just like Ford engines, they don't make them like they used to.

 

i got a cs144 140 amp unit from an internet sight, little more work to install but dead stable and supposedly very reliable due to its big case. Same place that makes that iceberg conversion but i can't remember the name

 

well i bought brand new one from work (pepboys) and its an 85amp alternator i got for like 80bucks. and its for a 82 camaro 305 with fuelinjection and AC. so far so good.