Below is part of an article I wrote a couple of years ago concerning battery cables. You may find the information useful.
POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE
Getting the positive battery cable issue resolved was very time consuming and many lessons have been learned. Reproduction cables can be found for a lot of cars, but they are not readily available from most vendors for a 1965 Barracuda.
After two years of searching, I found one source to be a company on eBay that sells the positive and ground cable as a pair for around $170 and $14.00 shipping (or $190 plus shipping if you want cables with square terminals.) Reading the description convinced me the show quality cables were correct for 64-66 A body cars with 273 engine and you will not be disappointed with this set seemed to cover what I was looking for. The price seemed high to me when later model mopar cables sets on eBay were selling for $50-100, but with no other choices available, my PayPal account took the $184 hit.
When the cables arrived, while initially impressed with the look of quality, I was disappointed by the absence of the protective insulating cover (black woven material) found on remains of my original positive cable. I am not a purist and I dont show my cars, so I accepted these supposedly show quality correct cables with a grumble and set them aside for almost two months until I was ready to install them.
A little background information may be helpful at this point. Over the past 20 years, I have restored 3 early model Chargers (still own and drive a 66 and 67) and a 1980 Dodge pickup. Returning a vintage Dodge or Plymouth to its original look and performance is a passion, not a vocation for me. I dont require nor insist on perfect NOS date coded restoration parts, but I strive to use the correct parts from the original manufacturer if possible. I learned long ago to own at least one parts car of the same make, model and year before beginning the restoration for reference as well as parts. The parts car pays for itself many times over. A copy of the original parts book is imperative.
Restoring this 65 Barracuda, my first A-body restoration, has been the most challenging yet rewarding thus far. I first saw the car in a series of pictures on an individuals webpage. There was no description, but the 30 plus pictures told a story that interested me. Oh sure, the car looked like death warmed over, but its Colorado location meant less body rust and those of us living in Virginia know about body rust.
It was the originality and options the pictures showed that set the wheels in motion to buy this car. It was a Formula S, 4 speed, factory A/C, bumper guards, wood wheel and optional silver paint Barracuda. The fender tag and most of the buildsheet was intact.
Now, back to the battery cable
the old cable was routed from the starter forward to the front (radiator side) of the shock tower and up to the battery. The repo cable, because of the length and location of wrapping could only be routed behind (firewall side) the shock tower and then to the battery. I debated with myself and was almost convinced to just leave like that until I referenced my other 3 Barracudas. (now I own a 66 to restore with its parts car and the 65 parts car) All 3, plus looking at pictures of other cars showed the cable routing in front of the shock tower, not behind it. My show quality - will not be disappointed cable didnt look right nor fit correctly and too expensive not to. But there seemed no other option.
Ah.. but it turns out there is another option and a much better one at that. M & H Electric Fabricators, Inc in Santa Fe Springs, CA can reproduce a correct positive battery cable for your car.
The web address: (
www.wiringharness.com) But you wont have much success navigating M &Hs web page for battery cables. Most inquires throw you back to Year One as M & Hs exclusive and only distributor. Yet you cannot find a 65 Barracuda positive battery cable listed by Year One.
I finally gave up on the web page and called them (562) 926-9552) and talked to Robert Wallace, one of the most knowledgeable humans on the subject of automotive wiring. I gave him the Chrysler part number as found in my 65 parts book (258717:cool:. ( note: part number 2587178 was stamped on the remains of my original cable as well) He confirmed they could build the cable to specifications derived from original factory technical drawings and the cable was set-up in their system as part number 35230. The cable would have the correct woven insulation on the starter end as the original.
Things get a little strange at this point. I no longer automatically assume anything, especially when it comes to restoration parts or information. So
I ask Robert for wire lengths at different points and positions on the cable he was ready to build for me. I was stunned when the dimensions did not match the remains of my old original cable. But they did match the show quality-will not be disappointed cable perfectly.
Robert is a very patient and dedicate worker who I think strives on problem solving.
Rather than giving up with I cant help you anymore, he listened patiently as I explained the cable he wanted to make did not match my old one. He said Chrysler was notorious for changing, at any time, the specifications, vendors and designs of parts for numerous safety or cosmetic reasons. He also said if I could provide an original undamaged battery cable to use as a pattern, they might be able to make one.
My 66 parts cars had an original, beautifully preserved positive battery cable with part number 2661913 clearly stamped on it. Problem was, M&H had no record or spec sheet for that number, the part number is not found in any parts book and an Internet search produced no results. (part number 2587819 is listed in my 1966 parts book for a positive cable)
In the end, I sent my 2661913 cable to M&H, they reproduced it and we worked out a deal where I gave them the cable to keep for future reference. So if you happen to want a nicely reproduced positive battery cable for your 64-66 A body, call Robert Wallace at M&H (562-926-9552) and request cable 2661913 using print 35225 (their in house spec sheet number). Itll cost about $100.00 plus shipping and you buy it directly from M&H. YearOne is M&Hs exclusive distributor for wiring kits, but not battery cables.
In the first picture below, you can compare my original cable with the "you will not be disappointed" cable. Very different
Second picture compares my old original cable with the new one from M&H. Nice match
Third picture shows the M&H cable routed in front of the shock tower and near the battery.
Note: the will not be disappointed cable was returned to the seller. My refund was minus $35.00 for PayPal and ebay fees. (excessive I thought) and I paid shipping going and coming. In the end, this mistake added about $70.00 to the restoration cost.
Attached Images
Last edited by pbiggs; 01-03-2012 at 04:38 PM.
