jayzi Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 Hi guys. I'm planning to reroute the battery cables because it currently looks chaotic. I have seen many engine bay photos of Montes but it seems to be there are different solutions. Is there one which is both almost original and efficient/easy? And is there a specific cable type available anywere which can be used without modifying? Here's how my cables are currently looking: Joerg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
footballubet Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 Going with a shorter ground cable would help the looks. Also the small lead from the ground cable should attach to the inside of the fender. This is a major ground for many systems. Switching to a side mount battery and cables would make an even bigger improvement on looks. The 78 series side terminal battery has the positive and negative terminals opposite of your battery. That eliminates the wires crossing over each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leghome Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 Cables do not look to bad but the ground could be much shorter cleaning the appearance up a lot or move the end off of the alternator to some place down on the block. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toppless72 Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 As Scott said, switching to a battery that moves the positive terminal away from that sheet metal is a good idea. Even in a minor accident that positive terminal can come in contact with the body. That can cause an arc and start a fire under the hood which makes a small problem a big problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayzi Posted August 31, 2014 Author Share Posted August 31, 2014 Thanks Scott, Larry and Joe. So I will buy a new battery with the positive terminal left and both terminals on the side. Would a 61Ah battery do (just like it came in the 350 from the factory) or would you suggest to use a stronger one? The negative cable is already attached to the fender but with the thick cable instead of the smaller one. That's probably a usable solution but I will try to change that as well. Only need to find a fitting cable. Maybe this one which isn't cheap at all: OPGI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stangeba Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 What year is this car? I believe in 1970 all but the SS were top terminal batteries. The 1970 SS and all 1971 and 1972 Monte Carlos used the side terminal batteries. The stock factory place for the (-) negative cable is mounted to the alternator top bracket. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. I'm fortunate to still have, and use, the original cables for my 1971. Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayzi Posted September 1, 2014 Author Share Posted September 1, 2014 Hi Bruce. It's a 71 just like yours. Just two months older. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC-71 Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 www.americanautowire.com They are in NJ. Their product is perfect. You need the side post for your 71. Don't buy them from OPG. You might have to wait forever to receive them. Carl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam (Bones) Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 if a 1970 had the heavy duty battery option is was a side post battery, my 350/ 4 speed came with a side post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Peters Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 Scott is right on the reversal of the battery. It didn't matter if it was a top post battery or a side post battery, the negative pole was located next to the fender with the heavy ground routing to the alternator and the small wire attching to the fender. Your positive lead cable looks to be about half the thickness of mine. Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayzi Posted September 1, 2014 Author Share Posted September 1, 2014 My positive lead cable in blue is an extension of the original red cable caused by the top poles and plus pole on the right. Was done by the former owner but I will change both. Which Ampere hours would you suggest? Are the standard 61 Ah okay to use with the 350 engine? I could also buy 65 and 70 Ah here in Germany (with side and inversed poles). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
footballubet Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 From what I see the 65 series is 2" longer and the 70 series is 2" shorter than the factory battery. Not sure what else is available over there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayzi Posted September 1, 2014 Author Share Posted September 1, 2014 But besides the sizes would a 60/61 Ah do or would I need a stronger one? I guess the current battery technology is way better than it was 40 years ago so probably a 60/61 would do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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