68 Corvette Battery

[Mark Milchuk]

Just bought a new Battery for 68 Corvette Project car.
Does not have original Engine(NOM)
Engine Code V1002CNR - 1970 350" 300hp for a Caprice

Engine does not have alternator nor water pump nor radiator hooked up yet.
Started engine for 5 seconds to see if it would run. Car has not been started
in at least 2 years..

Battery terminals and cables got extremely HOT.

What could cause the battery to get so hot so quickly?
Bad Ground of negative cable to the Frame?
Bad battery cables?
Fact alternator was not installed?

send response to mmilchuk@optonline.net
Thanks for any help,
(This is my first Corvette and first project car)
-Mark

PS does anyone see any problem with the engine that is in the corvette?

[John H.]

Re: 68 Corvette Battery

Mark -

While cranking, the starter pulls 400+ amps - if it didn't start right away, the cables would warm up, especially if the terminal posts and ground connection to the engine aren't nice and clean (or the old cables are corroded inside the sheath), causing high resistance, which creates heat.