Unclekelly Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 is it normal to attach the battery with the Neg. to a side post and Pos. to a top post ....the 70 Monte my niece has left in my hands was hooked up like that ....the battery is kaput and I need to replace it so just wondering ..I suspect my BIL did it like that because it was convenient though I don't know for sure what kind of new battery should I buy as a replacement ..........thanks for any assistance... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Peters Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 Kelly, I don't know if I have ever seen a battery with a side post and top post. As far as which battery that should be used would depend upon the engine. The big block engines would normally have had a heavy duty battery. The batteries are available from many sources. Many of the heavy duty batteries were side connections while the standard battery having top posts. My 70 350 is a regular top post battery. I am sure others will chime in here. Click this link for more information from here on the site: http://www.firstgenmc.com/forums/index.php?/topic/8676-correct-battery-info-needed-for-1970/ rob 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackhawk Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 It looks like they did it as a cheap way to add the circuit breaker for I assume an amp. Is there anything connected to the circuit breaker? You should be able to replace the positive cable with a stock side post cable, and if you still need add-on circuits you can use a side post adapter that has an extra threaded end for adding ring terminals. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unclekelly Posted February 4, 2018 Author Share Posted February 4, 2018 It looks like they did it as a cheap way to add the circuit breaker for I assume an amp. Is there anything connected to the circuit breaker? You should be able to replace the positive cable with a stock side post cable, and if you still need add-on circuits you can use a side post adapter that has an extra threaded end for adding ring terminals. I believe you are correct ...the car has a big sound system with an amp and sub in the trunk ... something like this thing....plug your ears Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unclekelly Posted February 4, 2018 Author Share Posted February 4, 2018 Kelly, I don't know if I have ever seen a battery with a side post and top post. As far as which battery that should be used would depend upon the engine. The big block engines would normally have had a heavy duty battery. The batteries are available from many sources. Many of the heavy duty batteries were side connections while the standard battery having top posts. My 70 350 is a regular top post battery. I am sure others will chime in here. Click this link for more information from here on the site: http://www.firstgenmc.com/forums/index.php?/topic/8676-correct-battery-info-needed-for-1970/ rob I've never seen that in any car either but apparently it's nothing new ....the link you attached has more than a couple members talking about the same battery as the one that was in the car.....Optima red top Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monte70car Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 That style of battery allows to the added connection. Had one like that in a 00 Chevy pickup and the side post stopped acting as a good - so we added a - cable to the top. In your niece's case or yours the positive cable has had the end changed on it to a clamp style and then someone brought a red cable (could have been the only color on the shelf) to be a neg cable. Over the years people replace batteries, battery cables with what was available at the stores. I usually go with the most cold cranking amps (CCA) due to all the add on's ie: power windows, power door locks, keyless entry, power trunk plus it helps to turn the mini starter over quicker. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Boyte Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 Our Duramax has both top and side post on both batteries 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Bell Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 One of the battery cables in the car is incorrect. Early Monte Carlos came with old style top post terminal batteries, later came side post. No doubt both battery cables on your car were replaced. I can't imagine any decent mechanic installing mis-matched cables like this. However, with the dual terminal battery, it certainly will work. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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