Battery Cable question

[VanBoy]

I was referring to the older Ford engine series, the 330, 361, 391 series used in the 70's. Mine is in a 74 Ford C-750 cabover truck w/ a carb. It tends to get cranked over for a while first start of the year.

To be fair, this 94 6.5L diesel is the first GM I have owned, so I'm not to versed w/ the side terminals. (My uncle had an 80 and 94 GM, but it was gas, a bit more forgiving). My experience is usually the top stud or the threaded terminals (group 31 battery- used in semi's that take 4 batteries). I prefer the group 31 type threaded terminals- easier to clean. But you are correct, if the connection is not clean or tight, it does not matter what size cable you have.

Starters, battery cables, alternators and batteries get me started on my soap box. I've worked on my & friend's equipment (trucks, tractors, etc), so I have seen different things (some half brain setups/fixes). I tend to err on bigger capacity then OEM....so far, the starting/charging systems I've help redo have held together (some under industrial applications/conditions- ag). Knock on wood, I'm still running the same factory alternator and starter on my dad's 1983 Ford F150 w/ 4.9L. Good batteries, connections & cables. And I shake my head at the older Ford tractors (3000, 4000 series). Why in the world would they put a battery OVER the hot engine!? And a big battery too....forgot the number. Heck, one high CCA dry cell does the job better now then the OEM battery size....

Sorry.....like I said...it's a soapbox for me.

[racer55]

361 is a ford engine,it is an FE version and was offered in the Edsel-I pulled 1 out a couple of years ago so the guy could shoehorn in a 460.

[VanBoy]

Originally Posted by racer55

361 is a ford engine,it is an FE version and was offered in the Edsel-I pulled 1 out a couple of years ago so the guy could shoehorn in a 460.

Thank you.

An Edsel! The one w/ that funky front end! (I even ran across an old 352 Ford engine at one time.....had no idea they existed.) I swear, the ID tag said 352! Some weird industrial engine. Heck, there was a 429 used in the med-duty trucks up until 1985, so said a repair manual.

[racer55]

It was a 1959.
Not sure what you mean by front end,sheet metal or the fact that it is rear steer IE:tie rods and helper cylinder behind the frt crossmember?

[VanBoy]

The front grill. The fact is has two small bumpers separated by that - grill design.

[Steve83]

I didn't realize you were talking about antiques - I assumed this was a relatively modern truck; you know, less than 3 decades old.

[VanBoy]

Originally Posted by Steve83

I didn't realize you were talking about antiques - I assumed this was a relatively modern truck; you know, less than 3 decades old.

Yup, the Edsel is an antique. If I recall right, the Edsel had an electronic (electric selection) auto transmission for it's time. I have never really looked into it....but if I had to guess, it prob was a solenoid of some kind mounted to the tranny lever in the back.

My truck, I use it every harvest season. Not the fastest on the road, but Blue still hauls its load to the warehouse. If you really want "old", it still uses Dayton type wheels (aka California style), lock ring, tube type and 10.00-20 size tires! I bet I could put in a 7.3L IDI (International) w/ an aftermarket turbo and make it move...humm.....an idea. Granted, I'd have to figure out if I can find a tranny used in a cab-over. 444 CID vs 363 CID.... (now I'm thinking....bad, bad.)

Up until the mid 1990's there was a hop farm here that used 1953 era ('48-'53 body style) 2 ton trucks to pull hop trailers. Talk about an nightmare electrical system (stock)... 6 Volt POSITIVE ground.

Heck, my 1994 6.5 (the first year it was the electronic style IP, as you all know) is 19 years old! (Just looked at my state licensing office, 30 years is the min age for collector car. I swear the last time I looked, it was 25....) Maybe too many people licensing cars as collectors....

[bigblazer]

429 was used till 95 in small dump trucks, but yes it was industial and nothing was interchangeable with 429/460.lot of wierd stuff in industrial trucks, 305c v6, 351c v6, 702c v12 (2 351c welded together) built by chevy

[racer55]

http://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/...s-at-1600-rpm/

[bigblazer]

Thats the big boy! Ive never seen one in person, but we have a 65 dump with the 351c v6. Slowest reving motor ive ever seen.