Battery Cable Woes- 1970 454

[James G.]

Re: Battery Cable Woes- 1970 454

Joe,
I think what Terry meant was a 7/16 hex on a 3/8 thread.
Here is the NOS neg I have 7/16 hex 5/16 threads/
Resized_20200916_223241.jpgResized_20200916_223331.jpg

[Joe L.]

Re: Battery Cable Woes- 1970 454

Joe,
I think what Terry meant was a 7/16 hex on a 3/8 thread.
Here is the NOS neg I have 7/16 hex 5/16 threads/
[ATTACH=CONFIG]101219[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]101220[/ATTACH]

James------

Yes, I realize that he was talking about the hex size; that's what I was talking about.

By the way, I don't ever recall seeing a GM battery bolt that had a chromate (gold) overplate and certainly not bolts from the late 60's to early 70's.

Did this bolt come in a GM package? If it came as part of the cable, what is the part number of the cable?

[James G.]

Re: Battery Cable Woes- 1970 454

It is Part of the cable - I can't find a part number on the cable it's in a green and black Delco Packard box.

Here is a NOS 69-70 Corvette ground cable on ebay with the yellow dichromate bolt currently...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-1969-1970-Corvette-Battey-Cable-Ground-327-350-454-2SN17-2SN-17-8902674/324107729445?hash=item4b76537a25:g:600AAOSwgyNecs-~

Opera Snapshot_2020-09-17_004904_www.ebay.com.jpg
also correct in that it has the DELCO EYE on the cable - a cable which is not currently reproduced. No reproduction side post cable currently manufactured is assembly line correct for a 69 or early 70, same problem on a high end 69 Camaro restoration - which leads to the original EYE cables going for $500-1000 each
From what I have found all of the cables switched to the + and - no EYE by 71.

[Joe L.]

Re: Battery Cable Woes- 1970 454

It is Part of the cable - I can't find a part number on the cable it's in a green and black Delco Packard box.

Here is a NOS 69-70 Corvette ground cable on ebay with the yellow dichromate bolt currently...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-1969-1970-Corvette-Battey-Cable-Ground-327-350-454-2SN17-2SN-17-8902674/324107729445?hash=item4b76537a25:g:600AAOSwgyNecs-~

[ATTACH=CONFIG]101221[/ATTACH]
also correct in that it has the DELCO EYE on the cable - a cable which is not currently reproduced. No reproduction side post cable currently manufactured is assembly line correct for a 69 or early 70, same problem on a high end 69 Camaro restoration - which leads to the original EYE cables going for $500-1000 each
From what I have found all of the cables switched to the + and - no EYE by 71.

James------


Part numbers for the cable assembly are rarely, if ever, on the cable. However, is there not a part number on the box?

[Terry M.]

Re: Battery Cable Woes- 1970 454

Terry------


The more I think about it, I don't think the larger head bolt was 7/16. I just don't remember a bolt the size of the one in the photo above of the LL cable. I think the larger head, at least the one on my 1969 negative cable, was likely 3/8, not 7/16. It makes more sense, too. A 5/16 on one and 3/8 on the other.

Can't you check the ones on your 1970?

The 1970 is 100 miles away from me. When discussions like this come up I regret putting it into deep storage, but it is protected from this climate.

[James G.]

Re: Battery Cable Woes- 1970 454

Joe,
Tab was ripped off the box - it came in a load of NOS parts I bought out of a closed dealership... 36" long trying to determine what it fits.

I should probably buy the NOS neg vette cable with the EYE I posted above, if someone hasn't already, that is the first one I have seen in a while... I would like to do an early 70 LT1 or 69 at some point and may need the correct cable...

I know it's not a vette, however here is one of a late 69 camaro with the original positive and negative cables and bolts albeit with positive bolt or adapter on the neg.
9A8ED49C-851E-41FE-8F4C-36427034B362.jpeg6EE9C19D-D81E-4914-8D4C-F38C08C6B3D6.jpeg13F4BCFA-447E-498A-9AAA-B15D1BFEEF01.jpeg

[Joe L.]

Re: Battery Cable Woes- 1970 454

Joe,
Tab was ripped off the box - it came in a load of NOS parts I bought out of a closed dealership... 36" long trying to determine what it fits.

I should probably buy the NOS neg vette cable with the EYE I posted above, if someone hasn't already, that is the first one I have seen in a while... I would like to do an early 70 LT1 or 69 at some point and may need the correct cable...

James------


Without a part number, it's virtually impossible to say. It might not even be Chevrolet Division. It's definitely not Corvette or Camaro, at least any Camaro within the year range that used side terminal batteries and could have used the oddball bolt head and thread size. That chromate overplate on the bolt leads me to believe it was made from the 80's onward. Even then, it's rare since I just never have seen that finish on GM battery terminal bolts.

[James G.]

Re: Battery Cable Woes- 1970 454

8902674 is the part number for the NOS yellow 7/16 bolt corvette cable I showed on ebay. Opera Snapshot_2020-09-17_004904_www.ebay.com.jpg

[Joe L.]

Re: Battery Cable Woes- 1970 454

8902674 is the part number for the NOS yellow 7/16 bolt corvette cable I showed on ebay. [ATTACH=CONFIG]101225[/ATTACH]

James-----


Assuming that 8902674 is a finished part number (i.e. on a part box or parts label), I can find no record of that part number. VERY few part numbers of the series 8902xxx were ever carried in the regular GM parts system.

[Joe L.]

Re: Battery Cable Woes- 1970 454

The 1970 is 100 miles away from me. When discussions like this come up I regret putting it into deep storage, but it is protected from this climate.

Terry-------


Well, I was TOTALLY, 100% INCORRECT on this one and I'm ashamed of myself. Sorry for leading everyone on a "wild goose chase". It turns out that the positive terminal bolt on my car does have a 7/16" head with, of course, a 3/8-16 thread. I have no idea how I came to the conclusion that what I was actually looking at was 5/16".

As far as the negative side goes, I'm certain that the bolt was originally 5/16-18 THREAD. That's why I had to change it when I replaced the battery for the first time. However, as far as the head size goes, I'm not really sure at this point. My vague recollection is that it was different than the positive side. However, maybe it was not and what I'm recollecting is really only the difference in thread size.

Of course, not a single 1969 originally equipped with a side terminal battery will now have the original negative terminal bolt installed in their car even if they have the original cable. That's an impossibility since batteries with a 5/16-18 thread negative terminal have not been available for almost 50 years. So, it would be fruitless to ask any such owner to check their negative terminal bolt. As I say, not a single original car will have the original bolt.

I do have the original bolt but I'd have to go through a "ton" of group 2 parts in many tote bins to find it. I can't do that right now.

[Joe L.]

Re: Battery Cable Woes- 1970 454

Well, my exhaust replacement project expanded into replacing the battery box, which expanded into replacing the battery cables. I have two replacement positive cables, both of which will work and fit but neither of which is identical to the original (see photos).

I'm not sure what to do. I'll call Lectric Limited tomorrow and ask if they have (or can make) a cable with a 5/16" hex-head and a different solenoid terminal. Or I can cut off the pigtail from the service replacement cable.

Or maybe one of you knows of another source for a "correct" cable...?

Left to right: original, service replacement, Lectric Limited
[ATTACH=CONFIG]101188[/ATTACH]

Service replacement has a red pig-tail and 5/16" hex-head; LL has 7/16" hex-head. According to the JG, 5/16" is what I need ( 1970 #12931)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]101189[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]101190[/ATTACH]

The donut on the service replacement (center) is much thicker and less pliable than the donuts on original and LL cables:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]101191[/ATTACH]

Original (left) has a woven sleeve over the insulation at starter end, and its terminal has a slot with no prong. Service replacement (center) has no sleeve, and a slot with a prong. LL (right) has a hard rubber sleeve over the insulation, no slot, no prong.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]101192[/ATTACH]

Here's the box for the service replacement cable I bought over the counter about 25 years ago (it took me awhile to get around to this )
[ATTACH=CONFIG]101193[/ATTACH]

Mark------


Even though I was incorrect regarding the size head of the original positive terminal battery bolt, the configuration of the battery bolt head on the LL reproduction cable is not even close to the original configuration. Compare to the positive battery bolt in the photos I posted.

[Mark E.]

Re: Battery Cable Woes- 1970 454

Mark------


Please post photos of the battery terminal end of your original positive cable.

Joe,

The terminal on the battery end of the original cable has been cut off and replaced with a FLAPS clamp-on terminal (see my original photos). So I don't think it's of much help.

[Mark E.]

Re: Battery Cable Woes- 1970 454

Terry-------


Well, I was TOTALLY, 100% INCORRECT on this one and I'm ashamed of myself. Sorry for leading everyone on a "wild goose chase". It turns out that the positive terminal bolt on my car does have a 7/16" head with, of course, a 3/8-16 thread. I have no idea how I came to the conclusion that what I was actually looking at was 5/16".

As far as the negative side goes, I'm certain that the bolt was originally 5/16-18 THREAD. That's why I had to change it when I replaced the battery for the first time. However, as far as the head size goes, I'm not really sure at this point. My vague recollection is that it was different than the positive side. However, maybe it was not and what I'm recollecting is really only the difference in thread size.

Of course, not a single 1969 originally equipped with a side terminal battery will now have the original negative terminal bolt installed in their car even if they have the original cable. That's an impossibility since batteries with a 5/16-18 thread negative terminal have not been available for almost 50 years. So, it would be fruitless to ask any such owner to check their negative terminal bolt. As I say, not a single original car will have the original bolt.

I do have the original bolt but I'd have to go through a "ton" of group 2 parts in many tote bins to find it. I can't do that right now.

Joe,

It's all good. This isn't mission critical stuff (we're talking battery bolts) so no harm done. I sure don't expect myself to remember the size of Corvette battery bolts across the years (although after this, I probably will!).

I appreciate the wealth of knowledge and passion Terry and you bring to the club. Thanks again for your help!

[Terry M.]

Re: Battery Cable Woes- 1970 454

Terry-------


Well, I was TOTALLY, 100% INCORRECT on this one and I'm ashamed of myself. Sorry for leading everyone on a "wild goose chase". It turns out that the positive terminal bolt on my car does have a 7/16" head with, of course, a 3/8-16 thread. I have no idea how I came to the conclusion that what I was actually looking at was 5/16".

As far as the negative side goes, I'm certain that the bolt was originally 5/16-18 THREAD. That's why I had to change it when I replaced the battery for the first time. However, as far as the head size goes, I'm not really sure at this point. My vague recollection is that it was different than the positive side. However, maybe it was not and what I'm recollecting is really only the difference in thread size.

Of course, not a single 1969 originally equipped with a side terminal battery will now have the original negative terminal bolt installed in their car even if they have the original cable. That's an impossibility since batteries with a 5/16-18 thread negative terminal have not been available for almost 50 years. So, it would be fruitless to ask any such owner to check their negative terminal bolt. As I say, not a single original car will have the original bolt.

I do have the original bolt but I'd have to go through a "ton" of group 2 parts in many tote bins to find it. I can't do that right now.

My 1970 would have been equipped (as far as battery bolts go) the same as yours. My best recollection is both bolt heads were 7/16, and that is how it is now equipped; but I have to confess that in my case both those bolts have been changed over the years; due to (as you pointed out) changing the battery multiple times. Joe, you and I are not the only ones to face this dilemma. So, like oil and air filters, we face a huge dilemma in drawing lines in the sand. No Corvette so far has shown up with any of these original items intact. EDIT: Actually I know of a few Corvettes that have shown up with their original air filters intact, but none for original oil filters and no late 1969 to mid 1970 with their original battery bolts intact.

I have mixed up this issue repeatedly, although not in such a public way as this. I hope this chart is postable. I did it as a spread sheet and converted it to a PDF. I usually prefer to stick with less challenging pursuits.

BATTERY BOLT CHART.pdf

Year -s/n* - head size + head size - threads + threads
1969-#22,081 7/16-inch 7/16-inch 5/16-18 3/8-16
1970-#11,000 7/16-inch 7/16-inch 5/16-18 3/8-16
1970-#12,000 > 5/16-inch 5/16-inch 3/8-16 3/8-16
* s/n are approximate and the best information we have to date.


I think this didn't work so well, but I hope it is usable. I'll try more after I rest for a few days. I have some other ideas, but they involve printing and scanning, and I will not have access to those tools until Monday.

[Mark E.]

Re: Battery Cable Woes- 1970 454

Here you go Terry:

Battery Bolt Chart.jpg

1969 and 1970E are the same. Is that correct?