1968 SDV battery cables

[Kell Oskarsson]

Hello everyone. A quick question: I recently purchased a pair of original look battery cables from USA Parts Supply for my ´68. I noticed that the negative cable has a smaller diameter wire running from the battery terminal (see pic), which my older cable (probably non-stock) does not have. Does anyone know what the smaller wire is supposed to hook up to?

[cadillactim]

The smaller wire is a body ground.  Goes to the sheet metal.

Tim

[Gene Beaird]

As Tim says, a body ground. I think it attaches to a sheet metal screw on the pass. side inner fender. I'll try to get out to our 68 tomorrow and get a picture, if you need it. I think it's still there on our Calais.

[Kell Oskarsson]

Thanks Tim.  Gene, it would be really helpful to get a picture if it´s not too much of a hassle 

All the best,

Kell.

[Gene Beaird]

Kell,

My mistake.  Wrong car.  Our 68 Calais does not have the body ground wire, nor a screw close to the ground cable where such a wire would go.  The cables have been modified by using those cheap 'repair' terminals, but that small ground wire is not there. 

[Gene Beaird]

I will note, however that the positive cable on our Calais does have a smaller-diameter wire that leads to the battery terminal on the alternator.  Both cables are black from the factory, so are you sure that isn't the positive cable?  The other end of that cable does look more like a ground terminal than the starter terminal, but I thought I'd ask, just in case. 

[Kell Oskarsson]

Gene,

many thanks for checking this. I discovered upon removing the old ground cable that there was a short, braided ground strap coming out of the cable near to where the cable is grounded in the chassis (behind the front bumper). This ground strap bolts into the chassis near the radiator support (the only way to get to the bolt is thru the lower grille (in the bumper) on the passenger side. Presumably the extra wire in the new cable is supposed to replace the strap.

Your Calais might also have this setup - the ground strap is not visible from the engine compartment, you really only notice it once you get under the front of the car in order to unscrew the main ground cable.

Kell.

[Scot Minesinger]

The negative battery cable does have a sheet metal secondary ground wire and it must be hooked up.  On the original battery cable the sheet metal hook up wire was near where the large cable bolted to the frame and branched off from there instead of at the battery connection.  If you look at an original 68 Battery cable at the frame connection for negative cable you will see the sheet metal ground.  It is vital that this ground connection is made.  Otherwise problems will result, such as the ground will be reached by other means, such as thru the thin alternator ground and melt it.