Battery cable Options

[thomasotten]

Could someone please make photos of an original connection at the battery for the positive cable? As the battery clamp portion is so often replaced with one from a local auto parts store, I am interested to see how the original was done, especially how the auxiliary wires are attached.

Many thanks

[TonyA]

So I see the correct stuff for the positive side, but what about the negative side? Should the cable be braided copper? Is it braided round copper or a band type like the ground strap at the transmission. Or is it a black cable.

[JeffBowlsby]

So I see the correct stuff for the positive side, but what about the negative side? Should the cable be braided copper? Is it braided round copper or a band type like the ground strap at the transmission. Or is it a black cable.

An original battery ground cable is round, black cable, not braided.

[DennisV]

So I see the correct stuff for the positive side, but what about the negative side? Should the cable be braided copper? Is it braided round copper or a band type like the ground strap at the transmission. Or is it a black cable.

An original battery ground cable is round, black cable, not braided.

FWIW - The parts catalog lists two different battery ground strap part numbers.
914-611-903-10 -73
914-611-904-11 74-

Perhaps the early one is braided? The one I found on our 1970 914-6 looks like @fixer34 photos.

[wonkipop]

So I see the correct stuff for the positive side, but what about the negative side? Should the cable be braided copper? Is it braided round copper or a band type like the ground strap at the transmission. Or is it a black cable.

An original battery ground cable is round, black cable, not braided.

FWIW - The parts catalog lists two different battery ground strap part numbers.
914-611-903-10 -73
914-611-904-11 74-

Perhaps the early one is braided? The one I found on our 1970 914-6 looks like @fixer34 photos.

ok - both @JeffBowlsby and @DennisV are to be congratulated for getting my interest.
first Jeff for his insistence as always that things are a certain way full stop.
he makes a first rate research task master as you really got to find the EVIDENCE for Jeff to change his mind - he operates on evidence to date and stands his ground.

secondly for Dennis maintaining his curiousity and taking the physical evidence in front of his eyes seriously before dismissing it as being right or wrong.

here is what i can find.

1.
a photo of a 914/4 engine bay at the launch of the car at the Frankfurt Auto Show in late 1969. ground zero for battery cables? early car. very early you might say.



detail



the photo lacks resolution to be 100% certain, but it ain't a black round earth cable on this car. looks suspiciously like a braided strap?


2.

factory workshop manual. (from the engine volume).
bear in mind the factory workshop manual is published with the launch of the car.
its updated along the way with new pages and additions during the production run until the end of the car.
as such it contains many early photos of the cars in their original form which are not updated as the car changes.



detail



again a little blurry in the electronic copy of the factory manual i have.
but i'd say thats a braided strap ground cable?
it certainly ain't a black round cable.


3.
workshop factory manual again (from the fuel injection volume).



detail



you can see very clearly that its a braided strap in these images.
they very likely document the set up at the launch of the car and in the early years.


4.
PET parts diagram drawing.



no dispute what is being drawn there.
its a braided strap.
these PET drawings in the most part date from the launch of the car and its introduction.
rarely are the drawings themselves updated as parts change.
instead you have to go to the parts listing and there you can find the update sequence.
new drawings were only added along the way with the introduction of entirely new and entirely different parts. the one that immediately comes to mind is the pages covering the L jet EFI system for 74 in the USA and the dual carb 1.8 parts for ROW in 1974.


-------

my conclusion.
Jeff is correct. but correct for the 73, 74 and onwards model years of the car.
although going by the parts number sequence dennis lists the part might change in 74 not 73.

Dennis is correct in his view and speculation that early models (including the 6, not just the 4) could have had the braided strap. i would say not could but DID.

others with photos of their early cars with the strap are correct in their view that these straps are original set ups.

my guess is 70,71 and 72 cars had the strap. and maybe 73.
definitely the 70 models. and likely the 71 and 72.
need some photos of good original 73 cars, preferably historical photos to know for sure exactly when the change happens. is it 72/73 or is it 73/74?

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

its a round black wrapped earth cable in my 1974 1.8
i have no reason to doubt its not original.
in accordance with what is suggested in the PET as a different part number and as per Jeff's description of the earth cable.
but its a 74 and not an earlier car. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)