yes big 3, HO alt are always the way to go but like i say in all these threads my girl and i both have civics with the same alt. hers has stock batt, running only about 700rms and has insane voltage drops, sometimes below 10 volts. i know this because her radar detector says low volt sometimes and i read in its manual it will do that below 10..... mine has stinger battery and 3 farad cap running roughly 1500rms and i never ever drop below 12 volts and usually stay between 12.5-14.3.
im east side of cleveland near shaker heights, and a HO Alt is NOT an option for my car, i won't be doing the big 3 right now and I have a yellow top already that didn't get jacked.