I recently returned from winter in Florida to find a dead battery in my 1964 non-air convertible. I’m not sure how that happened as I had a battery tender, but that’s another story. I took the dead battery to Battery Warehouse for a replacement. I had ordered a replacement set of battery cables a while ago, but hadn’t replaced them yet, and figured this would be a good time. I found the cables didn’t fit in the car with the battery terminals oriented. The car has been thoroughly gone over by bubba. When I purchased the car the battery was held in with a bungee cord! I purchased a battery box and hold down hardware and the battery cables, but the battery cable didn’t seem to be the correct length, so I tossed them on the shelf.

I took a close look yesterday, and It looks like if the battery terminals were reversed the battery cables would reach the correct terminals. I suspect I have purchased the wrong battery. The battery is installed with the two terminals closest to the firewall and the positive terminal closest to the engine and the ground closest to the fender. The red battery cable is longer than the black cable, and would reach the outboard end of the battery, and the shorter black cable would reach the ground terminal, if it were on the inboard side. If this explanation is too confusing I’ll shoot a photo.

Gene

 

What's confusing to me is, why don't you just turn the battery 180*?

 

If I reverse the battery 180* it puts the terminal posts on the forward side of the battery. Than the cables won’t reach the terminal posts. I guess what I need is a photo of an unmolested 1964 car with the correct battery.

 

Group 24 is the battery you want. And should have the post where you want them

 

A group 24 is what I bought. Are there different part numbers that reverse the positive and negative posts?

 

yes there are but I dont know what they are.

 

There is a 24 and 24 F. You can see the terminals are reversed.

 

Gene, here is the orientation you want. This is my '64. If you have a 24 battery, then I would check your cables. My black cable is the positive and is significantly shorter than the brown negative cable. I know some guys like their positive cable to be red, but it sounds like your cables are for a different series battery.

 

Your photo shows exactly the same terminal layout as my battery. Curiously, you said your ground cable is brown and the positive cable is black. I assumed (incorrectly I guess) that the brown cable was a muted red and positive, and the black cable is ground. If the cables are reversed they will fit perfectly.

Thanks of the photo! I really don’t care too much how original things are as I don’t go to shows, but as long as I’m fixing things I’d like to return things to as close to stock as possible.

Gene

 

Original and repro battery cables have a + and - sign on the cable ends. Go by that and not the color of the cable. And you can always double check where that cable goes to be sure

 

Did you see post #7?

 

Original cables, black is positive. Brown is ground. If I understand your post, the cables will fit in that orientation. If so, you're done.

 

Yes, I did see your photo Mike, thanks so much.

I checked the photo Panama 58s posted. My battery has the same terminal layout at the 24, not the 24F. I looked at the cables closely, and the brown cable has a big N on the spring ring end. The black cable may be marked too, but heat shrink covers the same area as the N on the brown cable, so my guess is I had the positive and negative cables reversed.

 

Thanks for all your help everyone, problem solved. Every time I post a question on the Forum the solution sure makes me look dumb. If the shoe fits, wear it. At least the problem is solved.

Gene

 

I think there's an inner diameter difference between the two clamps also.

 

....What gives you a bountiful lead ahead of others Gene, is your ability to recognize that you are in need of assistance & seek out that of which you wish to find!...Mark..

 

Same battery I have - and will get you some judging points if that matters.

 

I was stumped by the cable colors. I wrapped a bunch of red tape around the end of the black cable, so now I’m happy. Everything is back together and running good.

 

The only thing that resembles the OEM battery on that replacement is the location of the +/- posts.

Should be a total deduction. No blue ribbon for you, sonny boy!

 

My 64 Coupe No A/C has a heat shield spot welded to the battery hold down bracket...according to my NCRS guiding book...that's Factory Correct!...Mark