Looking to upgrade my alternator soon. I'm not sure if I need 130, 170, or 200 amps. What are you guys using and why? I do have a decent stereo with a couple of amps, and I hope to put in an electric fan this winter....
130 amps is typically the minimum needed for the typical bolt-on Fox w/stereo. I use a 200 amp Powermaster I bought used for $50, but I really don't need that much. www.paperformance.com is probably the best source for brand new 3G alternators and they carry a lifetime warranty.
Be sure you compare actual output numbers with various alts you're considering. You might find an advertised 130 that has very similar output to a 160, for instance.
If you live close to a pull-a-part, you can make a pretty cool harness for it for next to nothing if you don't want to buy the harness from PA. See here for details.