so i did the big 3 upgrade this weekend. when i took the battery out and unbolted battery box/holder, i see the existing wire that runs from the battery negative to frame to engine ground. i see that it is bolted onto the frame (as it should be), but i also see that it is completely severed at the engine ground.
there was no point in leaving it in. i sanded the spot on the frame down to bare, shiny metal, i ran 1/0 awg from the engine ground to the frame. i ran 1/0 awg from the same spot on the frame to the battery negative. and 1/0 awg from alternator positive to battery positive. when idling, the voltage now reads 14.4v, it used to read 14.0v/14.1v.
great success!
next weekend's project is to make a new ground connection in the rear for the 2 amps. 1/0 awg to the frame, drill a hole, put a grommet/bushing in, run the 1/0 awg wire through, into a distribution block in the trunk, 4 awg out to each amp.