Unless your car had the HD battery option, the neg cable goes to the terminal closest to the radiator. That battery is refereed to as Ford or reverse polarity (group 24F). Both terminals should be closer to the firewall than the radiator with the correct battery. Most battery shops will disagree and tell you the pos cable is closest to the radiator, as the HD battery option was. Is tit possible you have the wrong battery or installed wrong?

 

Battery is installed with the posts closest to the firewall. positive side is closest to the radiator. Can you still get a battery set up that way, I thought all top terminal bateries were set up the same way.

 

The standard V8 battery has the POS terminal closest to the firewall & radiator. UPC 12-A11

The standard L6 has the NEG closest to the firewall & radiator. UPC 12-A10

The HD battery (all applications) is the same configuration as the standard V8 battery. UPC T60-A1

For all V8s, this is the Positive terminal.

 

The standard V8 battery has the POS terminal closest to the firewall & radiator. UPC 12-A11

The standard L6 has the NEG closest to the firewall & radiator. UPC 12-A10

The HD battery (all applications) is the same configuration as the standard V8 battery. UPC T60-A1

For all V8s, this is the Positive terminal.

Steve, I am pretty sure that is not correct for a V8 standard battery. That is a side post on page A11. See the CRG page attached, battey usage heading. I have been down that road and it has been discussed before. I have the cables being referred to and they work fine with the correct battery.

http://www.camaros.org/underhood.shtml#Batteries

 

Now I am really confused. I just read a post that said all small blocks had the negative cable go to the thermostat housing.

 

UPC 12 A9 clearly shows it going to the thermostat housing, The alternator bracket has a clip on it to retain the wire but it is bolted down to the male post on the therm housing.

 

Damn, you're right!
I was looking at it wrong. Sorry, I'm not as familiar with small blocks.

I'll edit my post.

 

That being the case anyone have the correct measurement of the negative cable and where I can get it?

 

Perhaps contact American Auto Wire (aka M parker / Factory Fit.) I believe they actually make the cables. They should know the dimensions and what part number is correct for your application.
http://www.americanautowire.com/

 

Perhaps contact American Auto Wire (aka M parker / Factory Fit.) I believe they actually make the cables. They should know the dimensions and what part number is correct for your application.
http://www.americanautowire.com/

Yep good idea. I will call them on Monday. Thanks

 

Damn I got it wrong again.. :clonk: Thanks for pulling me up.
Looks like I have and am showing the T60 HD battery.
It's an AGM reproduction. (same internals as an Optima)

 

Don't worry. It is one of the few things I know. I wanted it right on my car. What is funny is the battery guys argue with me about putting a Ford battery in my Camaro.

So has anyone replaced cables on a 69 small block with the correct ones.

I used the ones from Rick's First Gen. Part numbers SRP-710 and SRN-560. They are from Factory Fit. Looks like they will work for standard or HD battery. The neg cable is plenty long. The positive cable is just long enough.

 

So has anyone replaced cables on a 69 small block with the correct ones.

 

I used a modern Delco with a Battery Topper. The neg terminal is to the outboard side, and for a b/b attaches to the block.

I forget which one, but I had to shave one of the terminals to accept the spring clip style cable. The pos and neg clips have different IDs.