What does the relay do in this case though?

 

that is the starter relay.

 

So even though it's a relay, if the alt decides to flake out, it will still allow stuff to blow up? How is the voltage regulator tied in with the directly wired alt.?

 

but the relay does not control power flow into the cab. it controls power to the starter solenoid. you would be tying the alternator to the same connector as the battery wire/ wire that runs into the cab.

 

Okay, so it would flow right through the battery and smoke anything in the cab?

 

it could fry anything before the fuses panel. the fuse pan should stop it from going any farther but the fuse panel is pretty far into the electric system.

 

So I pretty much need fusible links if I don't want to chance the fact of the truck burning down?

Also, when you run the new wire to the starter relay, the old one is just set aside, right?

 

you got it. i think you could just leave the old wiring connected. this would just bypass all the weak electrical. you could even just run the wire to the battery terminal if there is room.

 

Leave the old wire connected on the alt.? Wouldn't that still, in theory, allow current to pass through that old wire?

As for running it to the battery, I just might do that, there is plenty of room up there.

 

but it would still take the stress off the old wiring allowing power to flow straight from the alternator to the battering instead of having to flow through the bulkhead connectors. chrysler was well aware of the problem - in fact, police, taxi, and fleet vehicles, whose electrical loads were typically quite high (and which vehicles typically had a “fatter” alternator) had the two charging-circuit conductors removed from the bulkhead connector, and its woefully-inadequate 1/4-inch Sta-Kon connectors, and run directly through the firewall (with a simple rubber grommet)