Starter to alternator wire gauge LS3

[Tony70Chevelle]

I'm building a 70 Chevelle LS3.

I'm doing an AAW re wire and it comes with 6 gauge wire from the starter to fuse then to the alternator. I'm wondering if 6 gauge wire is big enough. I'm planning on running 1 gauge from the battery to the starter. Battery is in stock location.

I'm trying to hide wires as best I can so thinking of running the starter to alternator wire back toward the battery then hidden in the core support to driver side then down near the power steering and up to the alternator or something like that, or maybe run it with the electric fan wires (I'm open to suggestions on this as well)

LS3
Holley mid mount with 150 amp alternator
Vintage air
Dakota digital
Holley Terminator X
Stereo- 500 watt highs amp, roughly 1500 watt lows amp

[130fe]

I just ran a 4 AWG wire from the Alternator to the starter. Ran the wire along the intake and then down to the starter. Put some tech flex F6 wire braid to cover the wire. Electrical system works great (I have the exact same setup LS3 with mid mount).

[btmatt]

I am running the same setup as you and 6ga has worked fine

[Sinnister69]

6awg is fine for such short distance from alt to starter

[Tony70Chevelle]

I just ran a 4 AWG wire from the Alternator to the starter. Ran the wire along the intake and then down to the starter. Put some tech flex F6 wire braid to cover the wire. Electrical system works great (I have the exact same setup LS3 with mid mount).

Do you have a picture by chance? I’d like to reference how you ran it

- - - Updated - - -


I am running the same setup as you and 6ga has worked fine

That’s good to hear. Are you running a stereo as well?

[79 Camaro]

I also use a 6 gauge cable from the starter to the alternator on my LS swaps but I route the cable a bit different from above.
I run the cable from the starter forward along the right side of the block. Then around the front of the oil pan. I use two of the front oil pan bolts with rubber lined cable clamps to secure the wire along the front of the engine. Then on to the alternator. Has worked well for me.

[Richard454]

Just sayin-

6GA is rated for 75A- 50A for 10ft -8ft

4GA is rated 125A-110A for 10ft-8ft


A rule of thumb for wire under the hood- due to the added heat -is go up a size to a larger wire.


It's less than a buck more a foot- sort of a no brainer to go larger...

[icemanrd19]

I ran 2 gauge everywhere which is what dse uses. I have two lugs on my firewall. Alternator to lug and starter to lug. On the other side lug to the battery in the trunk. As far as grounds go I have plenty but to give you a idea as far as battery grounds go I have one from my battery to trunk brace, battery to the firewall lug. Engine side from the lug to the engine, lug to the subframe etc.

[thedugan]

I had spoken to Powermaster on this and they said 6 gauge was fine. Going bigger always helps. To help hide the wire I was fine with going 6gauge.