The Ford Barn

Terry Wilkerson · 12-04-2023, 01:38 PM

I found the negative cable to the starter with a bare spot on it to the front cross member on a sharp piece. If it had been the positive cable the car would have burned down. I'm planning on relocating both cables across the firewall above the engine. I heard of guys using welder cable for this before. Question is what size cable should I buy? Also any other wire route suggestions is fine. I us can't bring myself to run them in the same place.

deuce_roadster · 12-04-2023, 02:13 PM

So Terry, you or the previous owner converted the car to Negative ground? Old Fords (32-55) had Positive grounds from the factory. What is either of the cables doing up by the front crossmember? What year and body style are you talking about? This is confusing me.

Terry Wilkerson · 12-04-2023, 02:21 PM

Yes I converted it to 12V with a new wiring harness. The car does still have the 6v started. It has worked fine so far. The cables were ran as I described at 6v by someone else apparently. The car is a 1950 ford custom.

Lanny · 12-04-2023, 11:39 PM

You could use smaller cables with the 12 volt system, but it will
work good with the bigger 6 volt wiring cables too.

.

TomT/Williamsburg · 12-07-2023, 08:45 AM

In the hot rod world we use #2 welding cable for battery cable - good you caught this.

325w · 12-07-2023, 09:48 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Weldering cable has a good rubber covering. It will take a bunch of abuse

12-04-2023, 01:38 PM	#1
Terry Wilkerson Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Olathe Kansas Posts: 44	Got lucky. I found the negative cable to the starter with a bare spot on it to the front cross member on a sharp piece. If it had been the positive cable the car would have burned down. I'm planning on relocating both cables across the firewall above the engine. I heard of guys using welder cable for this before. Question is what size cable should I buy? Also any other wire route suggestions is fine. I us can't bring myself to run them in the same place.

12-04-2023, 02:21 PM	#3
Terry Wilkerson Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Olathe Kansas Posts: 44	Re: Got lucky. Yes I converted it to 12V with a new wiring harness. The car does still have the 6v started. It has worked fine so far. The cables were ran as I described at 6v by someone else apparently. The car is a 1950 ford custom.

12-04-2023, 11:39 PM	#4
Lanny Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mn Posts: 2,411	Re: Got lucky. You could use smaller cables with the 12 volt system, but it will work good with the bigger 6 volt wiring cables too. . __________________ If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. But if daddy ain't happy...RUN

12-07-2023, 08:45 AM	#5
TomT/Williamsburg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Williamsburg, Virginia Posts: 2,654	Re: Got lucky. In the hot rod world we use #2 welding cable for battery cable - good you caught this. __________________ Run to the LA Roadster Show - 2016 My Run to Bonneville - 2013 My 32 5-Window Build My Run to the LSRU

12-07-2023, 09:48 AM	#6
325w Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Arlington, Texas Posts: 379	Re: Got lucky. Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Weldering cable has a good rubber covering. It will take a bunch of abuse

12-04-2023, 02:13 PM	#2
deuce_roadster Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Shelton, WA Posts: 3,800	Re: Got lucky. So Terry, you or the previous owner converted the car to Negative ground? Old Fords (32-55) had Positive grounds from the factory. What is either of the cables doing up by the front crossmember? What year and body style are you talking about? This is confusing me.