Replacing 1/0 Battery leads
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 957
Likes: 6
From: Burlington wisconsin
Replacing 1/0 Battery leads
Has anyone replaced their battery leads with a heavier gage cable? If so what ends have you used at the battery, preferrebly side posts. It would be great to see some pics.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
With a 78, you probably have the same garbage copper-plated aluminum cables that I had in my 77. You actually don't need heavier cables, you just need them made out of 100% copper. The Delco replacements fit perfectly and are pure copper - cost is about $80 for the pair, pre-made, with the terminal ends and everything.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Since these cables are very long, and harder to find....try a welding supply house, and then ends soldered on with a torch....then you can maybe try a electrical supply house for some cable....
gotta be cheeper then auto houses, even IF they have the lengths....
gotta be cheeper then auto houses, even IF they have the lengths....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 43
From: Eastern US XX
With a 78, you probably have the same garbage copper-plated aluminum cables that I had in my 77. You actually don't need heavier cables, you just need them made out of 100% copper. The Delco replacements fit perfectly and are pure copper - cost is about $80 for the pair, pre-made, with the terminal ends and everything.
By far, the easiest, cleanest, and most reliable option.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 957
Likes: 6
From: Burlington wisconsin
I did have the OE aluminum crud, I had a roll (25') of a high grade 1/0 copper cable from a supply house (friend) so while I had the trans & drive shaft out I thought I'd up-grade. Now I just need to source some good grade ends. I have heard of allot of Guys on here upgrading to 1 or 1/0 welding cable, but not sure of what they used for ends at the battery. The lugs at the starter & frame ground he also supplied me with, so that not an issue.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 19,352
Likes: 654
From: Tampa, Florida
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
There are several ways to do this. The battery kit from summit would do it, but I am not a big fan of those adaptors. They work, just a personal preference.
You want pure copper 1/0 wold do nicely. You can get the crimp on lugs from Graybar, Summers Electric..any electrical supply house. Home Depot probably will not have them
When building the cables be sure and use the No-Ox grease on the bare end of the cable before crimping them and then heat shrink them.
You Must use the correct crimper, vice grips will not do the job right.
You need Pink Lugs for 1/0 cable.
The hole is a little big for the bolt going intot he battery but it will work fine.
You want pure copper 1/0 wold do nicely. You can get the crimp on lugs from Graybar, Summers Electric..any electrical supply house. Home Depot probably will not have them
When building the cables be sure and use the No-Ox grease on the bare end of the cable before crimping them and then heat shrink them.
You Must use the correct crimper, vice grips will not do the job right.
You need Pink Lugs for 1/0 cable.
The hole is a little big for the bolt going intot he battery but it will work fine.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 957
Likes: 6
From: Burlington wisconsin
Local "Grainger" supply house had the 1/0 compression lugs, my electrician bud had the crimper that looks like a huge bolt cutter. All done, looks great & should have no voltage drop what so ever! Job done cost me $20.00, the pink lugs aint cheap.
Thanks Guys.
Thanks Guys.
Last edited by cherrybombc3; Apr 29, 2008 at 01:12 PM.