ConcoursMustang Forums

Restoring - General discussions that span across many different groups of years and models => Misc Items => Topic started by: 66k on October 19, 2012, 07:01:09 PM

Title: Battery cables
Post by: 66k on October 19, 2012, 07:01:09 PM
I see both brass type of battery cable terminal connectors and standard lead ones. Which is correct? Does it differ from year to year and pos+ vs. neg- cable
Title: Re: Battery cables
Post by: jwc66k on October 19, 2012, 08:36:43 PM
In general, battery cable terminals were bronze. Lead connectors/cables are aftermarket and are usually the choice to replace a daily driver. For Ford, the hot ( + ) was a red cable, and the ground ( - ) was a black cable. This applies to wire harnesses in general, ground is black. If changes were made to terminal material I am unaware of when they were made. Marti Auto http://www.martiauto.com/ makes many replacements cables for many years and engine types and, with the exception of the insulation on the lug to the solenoid splitting on my 65 and 66 Mustangs, are good.
Jim
Title: Re: Battery cables
Post by: J_Speegle on October 19, 2012, 10:23:50 PM
Believe (think the engineering drawings state it also) that the bronze was lead dipped. Over time the lead wears/is sometimes cleaned  away leaving the base metal
Title: Re: Battery cables
Post by: Bob Gaines on October 19, 2012, 11:31:52 PM
Believe (think the engineering drawings state it also) that the bronze was lead dipped. Over time the lead wears/is sometimes cleaned  away leaving the base metal
I believe that was just on the negitive cable. The positive are all lead. 65-70 the negitive were bronze/tinned and the positive were all lead .
Title: Re: Battery cables
Post by: jwc66k on October 21, 2012, 03:34:25 PM
Believe (think the engineering drawings state it also) that the bronze was lead dipped. Over time the lead wears/is sometimes cleaned  away leaving the base metal
That's an interesting concept, lead wearing. I would like to see a drawing or specification on the battery end connectors. I think that the copper ring lug end was dipped in lead and it was not an even coating. Lead is a fair conductor of electricity, not subject to rapid corrosion (lead does oxidize) and it is soft giving a flexibility when the connection is made to a lead battery post. In some feasability tests, I used a lead compound to attempt seal electronic component containers. Once the lead went on the container, it left a permanent residual layer that could only be removed by extreme heat, not an easy process.
That being said, I remember back in the 60's, changing battery cables because the battery terminal end connection corroded and often broke (read snapped) from being disconnected and reconnected. Those connections were "bronze" in color, and bronze, compared to lead, corrodes easier and is brittle. The steel bolts were another problem, all due to batteries leaking acid. I remember in the early 70's getting medical treatment from battery acid burns (read gangrene) just by rubbing my arm on the battery case.
If in fact the battery terminal end of battery cables are made from lead, someone better tell Kevin Marti and all the Mustang parts suppliers.
Jim
Title: Re: Battery cables
Post by: PerkinsRestoration on October 21, 2012, 09:32:52 PM
1970-73 Mustang negative cables are also lead type, no bronze. The Kevin Marti cables are very good in my opinion. I've seen other repops not so good!
Title: Re: Battery cables
Post by: Bob Gaines on October 22, 2012, 01:16:36 AM
I believe that was just on the negitive cable. The positive are all lead. 65-70 the negitive were bronze/tinned and the positive were all lead  .
Whoops ,my tunnel vision acting up  again .Thinking 70 Shelby (which was a converted 69) and not 70 Mustang. Thanks for the clarification BP.