6280LDO

Really dumb, I know..... I removed an old battery and several days later, went to replace. Now I cannot remember if positive is on the left or right side.....The car is a 68 Convertible. I believe the Positive lead is on the left and negative is on the right.

Can anyone confirm? I did see a pic which confirmed this (attached), but then saw another that was opposite. Just want to make sure before I hook up incorrectly and cause an issue. Is the attached pic accurate?

Thanks in advance.

Mike

Roughrider

As you look at it, the positive post is on the top right.

6280LDO

Thanks for the response.... So opposite from the attached picture? Are you saying if i look down at the battery when installed correctly assuming I am looking front to rear that positive is right and negative is left?

Thanks

Hammerhead Fred

Just stick your head under the car near the battery box and you'll see the ground/negative cable is bolted to the frame right below the box. That's the cable you connect to the battery ground no matter what orientation you place the battery in the box.

Peterbuilt

The negative is a short cable, grab a cable with your left hand and reach under the car and see if that is the one connected to the frame just where the picture shows.

Msbfdx

The drawing is correct. Positive left, negative right. The long cable, on the left, goes to the starter and is the positive.

6280LDO

Guys... Thanks. I figured it out by grabbing the lead on the right was was connected to chassis ergo, the ground.

Thanks a lot

Mike

Peterbuilt

Always better to ask first rather than take a chance and see smoke everywhere.

dugsgms74

Just a FYI...Rule of thumb is positive is typically inboard, in case of accident the positive is just that slight bit safer from shorting to ground. Not so much of a issue on a fiberglass car.

69Vett

don't follow a picture of the internet,

physically follow the wires, someone may have switched them previously.

The short battery cable goes to the car frame, this is your Negative cable.
Long cable going to Starter is Positive cable.
Do not assume, hooking up backwards can be an expensive lesson.

7T1vette

Rule #57: Don't remove the old battery before you orient the new one correctly.

P.S. This 'strategy' works well for LOTS of replacement parts....

Gale Banks 80'

Oddly enough some time in the Production run of the C3's they Switched. My 69 has the Battery Terminals forward and my 80 has them aft. So there for the in board out board color code is opposite.

Kris Tunetso

In my 76 the terminals face rear and the negative is inboard. The way the clamp holds the battery down in the box, were I to turn the battery so the terminals faced forward, I'd not be able to get a wrench on them to tighten them down; they'd be under the lid frame.

7T1vette

I never did understand why Chevy used black wire for both positive and negative battery cables...especially with the Corvette, where you can't see those cable's termination points. {likely a cost-saving thing}

Probably a good idea to color-code the positive cable in all of them! (piece of red electrical tape?)

Paul L

Mine is color-coded red for (+) at the end.

gearbreaker

on top post batteries the positive post is larger than the negative post and it's really hard to attach the cables if youre trying to put the wrong cable on the wrong post. they just wont want to fit.

i havent iooked at a side post but the same may ring true on the size of the cable bolts

Duane4238

Also remember when working with battery cables, the positive+ is the first one to go on, and the last one to take off!
Duane