GS Battery cable source ?

[Mark Ascher]

I thought that I'd add my two cents worth to add to the confusion. In 1997 I bought a set of battery cables for my convertible. I bought them from a guy that had 100 sets specially made using the same manufacturer and the same "blueprints" that built them for Buick in 1965. I paid $100 for them but was very pleased with the quality, etc. They even had the part # printed on them, # 2989274 for the positive battery cable. Yes, they had the clamp type ends on them rather than the spring ring style. Yes, he sold them all.

John

John, I bought my cables from the same guy.
Mark, replacement cables may not be the same as what was used OEM on an assembly line. The guy who made the cables that John & I now have had them made directly from an original set. The set on Brian's car, the photo in post #7, are from an original as well. I can't speculate why the 65 pos. might be red. I do know they are supposed to be bolt-on clamp style.

Mark

[marxjunk]

i will get some pics i got these out of a closed down Buick dealership..i got  quite a few buick olds and pontiac cables...not a single red cable in the group til the side posts, and i left 50 because the boxes where torn and the cables where just ruined...no red cables in the ones i left either...

i have a bunch they are all real old stock as in nothing newer than 70....

im not disputing things so dont think that, im just extremely curious...i dig stuff like this..lol

[campfamily]

Anybody have a set of cables they're willing to sell for my 65?   

[wildcat65]

I'm getting some bolt on "universal" things from Painless.  Red posi wire, black neg, cut to fit. 
Not correct, but neither is my paint job 

[marxjunk]

Heres th NOS one i have..it has a Packard number embossed on it..looks like it has a date on the box of     5-30-67 3rd shift

[dl7265]

Mark,
68-70 bigblock used the same positive cable part#  with the plastic block. They were Red. Not sure on these ealier cars.Lot's of times you know nos stuff isn't corrrect.
  I'm suprised that M&H can't put a bolt on end? to the cables just spring ring. They can add the part# in the insulation.  100 sets X $100 ouch big investment. Especially if most the '65ers already bought cables.
 Thanks for the pics and info.

DL

[dl7265]

Sean Rogers, had these made! Negative number is 02983776 ( 17 .5 in long) black, positive 02987272 ( 25 in long)  red ,measusred from center of clamp to center of terminal! these where made by packard electric! here are pics of clamp end! and both wires, neg. also has a body ground wire!

Ground wire was my next question. 68 had them. Never had one on a 70 model.

DL

[Brian]

The ground cable on a 65 should have a small 18 gage ground wire coming out of it and going down to a ring terminal on the fender well.  If you look really close in the picture of mine you can see it--it turns down right after it comes out of the terminal, so hard to see against the black background of the fenderwell.   

[nut465gs]

I found this photo of a '65 Skylark GS engine bay from a Buick showroom literature piece introducting the 1965 GSs. It's shows a red positive battery cable. The photo is not clear enough to tell if it has spring ring or clamp style ends.

But as mention earlier, what the factory installed is not always the same thing as NOS parts sold over the dealership parts counter. With the NOS inventory that Mark has and his years of experience with automotive parts, I think this can only be the logical explanation.

Regarding M & H , I don't understand why they couldn't make a cable the correct length for a '65 and or have a choice as to what style of cable ends you want. Because of  :occasion16:the longer delivery time when ordering, they probably don't keep an inventory, but rather make them as the order comes in (especially for the rare apps).

John

[marxjunk]

Mark,
68-70 bigblock used the same positive cable part#  with the plastic block. They

according to my Delco books, 68 69 and 70 all 3 have different part numbers my books are dated
may 1968,June 69, and may 70..it may be one of those deals where later they are superceeded and they use 1 cable as a service part

[marxjunk]

Wow...thats pretty solid proof they are red...very cool..you can see in the one pic its a bolt on clamp..

probably should be enough proof for judging that spring rings are not correct


i looked for hrs and hrs never found that pic...and you are right assy line pieces are usually different than service pieces

[dsags]

Great picture John. Your supply of original literature is amazing.

Maybe its just me but its interesting that the snorkel is on the drivers side. Thought the air cleaner base only fit with the snorkel on the passengers side.

Dan

[nut465gs]

Dan,

If you play around with your air cleaner, you will find that it will fit either direction. I know that the CA air cleaners snorkels face the driver's side so that rubber hose can connect to the left valve cover.

John

[dsags]

John,

Sure enough it will fit on either side. Not all the CA emissions air cleaner vented through the snorkel. What's with this one ?

Dan

[Mark Ascher]

Dan, John,

I have seen both configurations on Cal. cars, A/C and non-A/C. There seems to be no consistency on those.
Another mystery....

The air cleaner on mine came from a Fremont car Brian bought that had A/C and the nose connects to the snorkel.

Mark