Battery cable

[70Wildcat]

I need to replace the positive battery cable on my 70 Wildcat. Classic Buick and CARS along with AD Delco sell a Black positive cable. The one on the car and I believe it is original is Red. I've seen some cheaper Red cables at Auto Zone etc. The question I have is why are Black positive cables being sold. I suppose I could put a Red terminal cover on the black one I have,but seems like a mistake could easily be made with two Black cables. Thanks in advance.

Mark Lewis

BCA$41402

65&70 Wildcats.

[NTX5467]

Color-coded battery cables, and I might be wrong on this, have not been done for quite some time . . . by anybody.

On the side terminal battery cables, including OEM, they've all been black, "+" and "-", BUT what they do have is the respective "+" and "-" cast into the block around the battery bolt, with some of the "+" blocks also being red in some cases. The tops of the batteries have the "+" and "-" cast into them, so you know what's what and then attach the battery cables accordingly, by noticing where they go. With the prevalent "negative ground" orientation of most 12V systems (since the 1950s), it's usually easy to determine that the "+" cable will eventually end up at the starter and the "-" cable will end up being attached to the engine somewhere (block or brackets that attach to same).

Some battery cables, by being attached to the engine at the time it was painted on the engine assembly line (final dress), will have some engine paint overspray on them. Unless the particular application might have originally spec'd a battery cable, any battery cable, that was not black, it should be black (as most every late model vehicle I've seen since the middle 1960s has been). If it's another color and does not have some manufacturer's markings (part number and/or date code), then I would highly suspect it's not orig--just my gut suspicion.

Also, many non-OEM supplied cables (as at AutoZone or similar) will generally be "just a single cable" rather than the OEM setup where the basic cable can also have the fusible link wires and such made into it (with appropriate terminals for attachment to the correct circuits) AND any wrappings specific to the particular application (i.e., insulation, elec tape to keep things situated until they need to be separate from the main cable).

Enjoy!

NTX5467

[palbuick]

The 1970 Wildcat positive battery cable is RED with a Spring ring clamp end. It has a plastic shield about 8 " long. This cable was used on the BIG block, 430/455 motors from 1967 to 1970. They do pop up on e-bay .

Are you interested in a 70 Wildcat 2 dr Ht with Bucket seat and console, I have a lead on one.

Jim Schilf

palbuick

[BUICK RACER]

They also sometimes can be found at some of the places listed on this link BCA-Other Links of Interest

[70Wildcat]

I purchased a Red two gauge cable on e-bay this morning. I had purchased one from CARS and when it came Black I guess I was suprised. Started checking and found that Black was the only choice from Delco,Classic Buick and suppose others. The Red ones at Auto Zone looked pretty cheap. Old school mechanic I know said he thought that the Red was original. I know that I could remember which was which,but there remained a chance that someone else under the hood might not. So if Red is correct and prevents a mistake I'll go that route.

Another 70 Wildcat? Sounds interesting,I know there was one in the Bugle for a few months then it went on e-bay I don't think it made the reserve.

Thanks for the help.

Mark Lewis

BCA#41402

[mrpushbutton]

Year one sells the Packard-Delco spring-end cables for Chevys--could be the same as some Buicks.

[NTX5467]

Typically, the respective GM carline applications were unique to the carline back then, unless they were just a single cable, but one carline might spec a different wire gauge for the same length than another GM division might. The positive cable on my '68 5467 (350 4bbl) has a particular routing that also includes a plastic "box" that comes with the cable and has the spring cable end for the battery--one of the few cables I've found in the ACDelco Illustrated catalog with such an "additional" item on them. It also has a particular routing near the engine block that is why the "box" appears to be needed.

I stand corrected on the color of the cable insulation. Thanks, Roberta!

Enjoy!

NTX5467

[Guest 70 Electra]

As palbuick pointed out, the 68-70 B/C-body big-block Buick positive cable from this era is very unique. (He should know, as he had several which I bought from him years ago. )

By description, the correct cable is #2 gauge, 49" in length, RED in color, has NO pigtail, uses spring ring terminal, has crimped-on fabric loom (protector), and a permanently MOLDED plastic insulator block. It is marked with the cable part number using "hot stamp" process.

Attached is a picture of the cable, to illustrate the MOLDED plastic insulator. NONE of the reproduction cables offer this feature, to my knowledge.

The photo is actually a mid-seventies Delco service part. It is correct in ALMOST every way to the original, but does NOT have the fabric insulation wrap (shown as loose piece in photo) like an original cable. It also has the service p/n marked on it, not the original p/n. Consider yourself lucky if you come across one of the service cables; if you find a genuine original (with black fabric wrap and production p/n) go immediately to buy a lotto ticket, as you have been blessed with uncommon luck.

By the way, if you are missing the original cable, you are probably also in need of the thin sheetmetal "trough" that this cable's insulator fits into. This "trough" bolts to side of engine and guides cable back to starter.

[70Wildcat]

Interesting.....the one on the car has the plastic insulator and fabric wrap,but it looks like the terminal was changed. I metal "bridge" if you will that connects the cable with the terminal. The wire was cut and it mates with the terminal being held in place by this metal piece. Problem is the wires are somewhat exposed. Is it possible to fit a new terminal on this wire?

Mark Lewis

BCA#1402

[Guest 70 Electra]

Having the end cut off is a common occurrence. Those original spring ring terminals will break if handled poorly, and often instead of cleaning off the typical corrosion, inept mechanics will simply CUT OFF the terminal and put a new one on. (More profitable than salvaging the original!)

Bolt-on terminals, while sold EVERYWHERE, are more correctly called "emergency" terminals...since that's all they're good for!

Problem is, these replacement terminals do not make good contact with cable (big voltage drop). Besides, they look cheesy.

However, having said all that, a bolt-on replacement terminal on an otherwise correct and original cable, might be better than a totally incorrect replacement cable.

[70Wildcat]

Thanks for the info. Went to an Oldsmobile show over the weekend...quite a few 442's had the spring clip terminals. Picked up an Olds parts book....Fusick...so somebody is making them. Place to start anyway.

Mark Lewis

BCA#41402

65&70 Wildcats.

[NTX5467]

I think that one issue with the replacement battery terminal end on the cable was that they worked good as long as the wire ends and the terminal interface were all "fresh" and non-aged. As they did age, exposed to everything, I suspect that would be when the electrical properties might deteriorate. To keep things in good electrical condition, using some electrical solder to physically attach the wire ends to the new terminal end might help, but it's still more of a "Band Aid fix" than anything. I would think that even finding an "incorrect" cable (with all of its ends intact) would be a better option.

I concur that the spring cable end was not the best long term situation. Many mechanics did not like them and they did fail sometimes. Seems like it generally took several years for them to loose their spring tension and result in a loose cable/battery terminal interface . . . and no way to make it better other than replace the cable . . . or put the replacement cable end on it.

Enjoy!

NTX5467