Side Post Battery Cut Off Switch Location??

[Chuck G.]

I'm tired of fighting the "wheel" cut off battery switch in my 69. It has the side post repro battery, and I have a "side post" wheel cut off on the negative terminal. Only with great difficulty, bending my wrist at wierd angles, can I turn the wheel off and on. Are there alternatives? Is there a different design that can be used in the confines of the "battery box" behind the seat? Has anyone used a different system, or put a cut off in a different location--under the car---under the hood---anywhere. Any/all suggestions appreciated. Chuck

[Jack H.]

Re: Side Post Battery Cut Off Switch Location??

Had std 'green wonder' on 'Lil Red (my '71) and pitched it long ago for the Wirthco switch (knife) mentioned in several threads in the archives. Trick is getting this one (comes in top post as well as side post style) into the Shark's rear compartment and attached without making sparks fly. Once it's in and positioned properly, it's fast easy and reliable to make/break.


PS, now Paragon has dropped the 'green wonder' in favor of Wirthco knife switch. Plus, you'll find in JC Whitney catalog as well as at other discriminating autoparts stores.

[Jerry]

Re: Side Post Battery Cut Off Switch Location??

Excellent, like Chuch I have skinned my knuckles so many times my hands look like boxing gloves, Thanks Jack and Chuck.


Jerry

[Terry M.]

Re: Side Post Battery Cut Off Switch Location??

Well guys welcome to the world of positive visual electrical disconnect.


Don't forget LGB industries NCRS member in Cary Illinois (see page 49 Driveline #129 & Page 9 in Driveline #130). Phone 877-639-1691.


Now the problem is for 1969 the GM engineers set the battery with the side terminals facing front and the battery cables are too short to turn it around like the 1970+ cars have.


I wish I had some advise, but thankfully I have not had to struggle with that. I hope someone else here has solved the problem.


My only thought is to leave the battery hold down loose and tilt it back to install/operate the switch, but I don't like the lack of safety involved with a loose battery. I hope someone has a better solution.


Terry

[Joe L.]

Re: Side Post Battery Cut Off Switch Location??

Chuck----


For the reasons that Terry mentioned, a late 1969 with side terminal battery is the ABSOLUTE WORST Corvette of all time with respect to usage of a battery cut-off switch.

[Chuck G.]

Re: Side Post Battery Cut Off Switch Location??

I dug out one of my hundreds of JC Whitney catalogs and found the WirthCo knife switch. As Terry and Joe have said below, the side terminals are in front in 1969. Is there enough clearance for the "knife" to go up and down in a 69? Will it clear the front edge of the compartment? Also, if you disconnect the "knife", does the compartment lid have to stay open? I'm thinking of getting a racing cut off switch, removing the negative cable where it attaches UNDER the car to the frame, and mounting the cut off there. I would rather crawl under the car to turn it off and on. I'm just tired of wiggling my hand and wrist into an un-natural positions. The back of my hand looks like a lost a "cat scratch" fight everytime I fight that %$&*## green knob. Any other thoughts? Chuck

[Jerry]

Re: Side Post Battery Cut Off Switch Location??

Hi Chuck:


I thought of this exact solution but could not find a race, ( or any other ), cutoff switch with a profile low enough to acomplish this installation, even aircraft were too large. If you find such a switch PLEASE E mail me should I miss the post. As always , thank you very much.


Jerry