I'm changing the battery cables on my 67 this morning.....the negitive cable was burned a bit from the exhaust manifold. The cable I'm removing says 2979821....#4 SAE copper. The new cable from Eagle Wire Products has the same number on it....2979821 but it is not as thick as the one I'm removing and does not say #4 SAE copper. Is there a difference if the thickness is not the same as the one I'm removing.......thanks.
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Re: 67 BB battery cables.
I'd go back to Eagle and ask 'em. The #4 spec deals with the OD of the wire inside the insulating sheath and that's an industry standard. However, both the thickness of the insulation as well as the specific insulating material is most likely different today than it was originally.
Much of the automotive wiring used in the 50's and 60's was insulated with PVC based plastic. In the mid-late 70's the electrical industry went through a pretty thorough 'purge' to eliminate PCV based components due to their tie as a known carcinogen.
So, NOBODY producing restoration wiring products builds them 'just' like they were back then (hooray!) and some of today's insulating plastics are far superior to what was originally used in terms of heat dissipation/rejection and flammability profile. You might hear Eagle tell you the insulation on the cable is where the size difference lies as what's used doesn't have to be as thick as the original to meet/surpass spec's then and now... -
Re: 67 BB battery cables.
Rick - Interesting that the cable being removed indicates #4 SAE copper on it because all the original Corvette spring ring cables I've seen only have the cable part number (if you can even find that) on them. Other NOS Delco Package spring ring cables for other cars like Chevrolets and Chevelles have the cable part number on them plus a two letter code but no cable size or material indication. I guess that GM figured if you had the right part number cable, the cable would work for your application; but I don't know about aftermarket cables. Hopefully, in the case of cables, the aftermarket ones are equal to or better than the originals. PeteComment
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Re: 67 BB battery cables.
You are correct Pete, the OEM cables, although generally 4 ga in GM 12V applications for V8 engines do NOT carry that designation on the cable itself. BTW. PVC was not the cancinogen, Vinyl Chliride, then monimer from which PVC was made was the issue, and PVC was driven from engine compartment use due to higher temperatiures in the 70's due to changes in emmisions and consequent rise in underhood temperatures. The replacement was generally cross-link polyethelyene construction, again, at least in GM underhood applications. PVC is still in use today for some passenger compartment wiring.Bill Clupper #618Comment
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Re: 67 BB battery cables.
Thanks for the responses......I found the invoices from my restoration of the 67.....the cables on the car now came from Long Island Corvette Supply.....with the script I indicated. I'm not going to use the Eagle Wire Products cables....they are too thin.Comment
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