I know Ford has a specific style battery cable that has a side wire that ran to a fuse box behind the battery. i would like to replace the negative battery cable in its entirety, but i have no Idea how long the cable is. I don't want to pull off the existing and badly rigged up cable until i have a new one in hand.

Any idea the correct lengths for the Positive and Negative battery cables?
(particulary a 1985 F150 with 5.0 F.I.)

If replaced would I have to cut out the insulation to ground it to frame via clamp? I have seen this on my best friends 1985 F150.

Thanks much in advance or your time and thoughts!!!

 

I use NAPA for all my needs when Ford can't supply them, they are usually pretty good with out to much modification to be done. The side clamp going to the chasis is for grounding body parts together. If new cable doesn't have side clamp, use a second wire to replace it. A small wire is sufficient, as I said its to keep all body parts at the same electrical level. Just make sure the battery cable goes from engine to battery, thats the big current draw.

 

Do you own a tape measure ??

 

Yes I do, its packed somewhere with some of tools out in the yard..just didn't feel like digging through trash cans and 5 gallon buckets..

The current battery cable is not correct and despite attempts keep it together everything comes loose and apart..as I said BADLY rigged up cable.

TO: Good Old Bill.. Thank you much for the information. That explains a lot.

 

To bad we couldn't give you the answer wanted. Don't think badly of techrep, we all have our moments. Wish I could delete all of my "off key" entries. Lets see, my post count would then be around 25.

 

He didn't want to pull the cable off so...I thought he could take a tape measure and measure it...what's so bad about that...

 

Techrep, absolutely nothing wrong. Guess it was just me who assumed you were sarcastic, my appology to you, Sir.

 

The attached picture will clearly show why i did not want to fool with this cable, this is what the original owner did amongst other horrible things to the electrical system that i am still trying to correct, The picture is my negative cable.. I purchased one from napa and destroyed it trying to install, so I am assuming the ground wire was misswired when it got replaced(originally), and have spent a fortune trying to find a way to fit two more battery cables that I have purchased today to where he had this one installed on the engine block...

Where is the EXACT location on the block for the negative cable to be installed??????

I have found a spot on the passenger front front of the block , behind the alternator: where i beleive it goes however that bolt is missing (along with many other bolts..I may add) I have even cut the replacement cable for the ground bracket that bolts to the frame to insure this gets done correctly. This is on a 85 150 with 302 F.I. and has a May 85 production date, going to the slavage yard tomorrow to see if any have the mounting bolt I am looking for and see where those are installed...

Sorry for the wordy entry, unless you are there to see this its hard to explain... Thanks much in adabvnce for your time and thoughts!!

 

This is the ground cable removed from the truck..

 

OK here you go. This is an 86 but probably the same.

The main ground cable goes to a clamp which is bolted to the frame, then makes a 180 and goes down to a bolt on the block under the alternator.
A small ground wire also comes off of the main battery clamp to a connector then disappears into the wiring harness nearby.



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Here is the location of the frame ground bolt looking up from underneath.


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Here is the end of the Ground cable at the block. There is a bracket for a wire loom under the same bolt. The bolt is under the alternator close to the alternator connector.



It may be that the PO busted the bolt off or cross threaded it and then tried to connect elsewhere? I would check that before buying something.