Correct battery cables for 65 Riviera

[Guest carlbraun]

it seems none of the vendors manufacture the spring ring cables for the 65 Riviera. A couple offer the positive only but what about the others?

M H Electric offers the other cables needed but they're listed for Wildcat or LeSabre models.

I'll do some measuring tonight but I would think that I could use the spring ring types from the other applications and make them work.

comments?

[1965rivgs]

The original cables were not spring ring. They were traditional clamp style cables with a thru bolt.

Tom Mooney

[Bleach]

The original cables were not spring ring. They were traditional clamp style cables with a thru bolt.

Tom Mooney

That's exactly what my '63 had and they were original.

[Guest carlbraun]

thanks Tom

that makes sense after talking to the guys at Lectric Limited and M and H.

thanks again for the insight.

Carl

[Jim Cannon]

Look at the figures in chapter 10 of the shop manual. They show how the battery goes in with the (+) post closer to the radiator and the (-) post next to the fender. Get cables long enough to cross over.

[RivNut]

I can tell you from experience that you don't want the positive post of the battery too close to the side of the hood. Can you say major short? If it hadn't of been for an aftermarket ammeter gauge that completly blew, I'm sure the entire car would have been one large short - me included.

Ed

[Guest carlbraun]

Guys

I found the drawing i needed on page 10-144. Thanks for the lead Jim.

M&H Electric will be getting my business as the people at Lectric Limited were very blunt with their response back to me stating they dont offer certain cables for the Riviera.

It seems that M&H and Lectric Limited have the same part numbers leading me to believe that M&H makes them for Lectric Limited.

Here are the cable part numbers I'll be buying for my Riviera. the negative cable will NOT have the aux ground wire that connects at the voltage regulator...apparently too much hassle impregnating the wire into the head of the clamp. M&H suggests a seperate wire that would parallel the large GND cable in order to be as "correct" as possible. This jives with Tom's comment from another thread about the same wire.

The Buick shop manual calls for the positive cable to be RED in color. I have to verify that M&H's + cable is red. Here are the part numbers I'll be using from M&H:

#31920 positive to junction lug ($39)

#31915 negative to GND lug at PS pump ($39)

#31930 junction lug(+) to starter solenoid ($39) (includes the correct yellow and purple wire for solenoid)

M&H treated me right and worked with me to find the most CORRECT cables for the job.

[60FlatTop]

RivNut,

In August, 1982, my son was one month old. My wife, Andy, the baby, and I were driving my '64 Riviera for a nice ride about 25 miles from home. My battery was not clamped down and I took off from an inclined intersection. the car stopped running, just cut out. I got out to see what was going on and there was a big explosion. Fluid poured out of the left front of the car. Scared the hell out of my wife. And I was quite nervous about opening the hood.

Once I did, I found that I had the battery in, positive post outboard, and not clamped down. One big short!!!

It was a real hot day. My wife and new baby waited in the car for over an hour for help to come. I'm pretty conscientious about position and clamping now.

Bernie

[RivNut]

I had the NAPA distribution center in Kansas City, KS make me some cables to my specs. I chose the gauge (most jobber wires off the shelf are not heavy enough) and color of wire and the terminal ends. Looks just like OE and the cost was very reasonable.

Ed

[1965rivgs]

You should be able to find a generic black cable in the correct length with the extra ground wire. The description of the cable may describe the extra wire as a fusible link lead, maybe not, depends on the supplier. You should also have a choice of gauge. the ends may not appear exactly like the originals. I dont know how particular you are about coemetics.

Lectric Limited and most probably M and H should be able to supply replacement cables with the correct part numbers stamped on the cables if you are striving for a completely original appearance.

Tom Mooney