Topic: side to top post battery cables

[racereaper7]

hi everyone its been a long time since i have had a chance to work on the car,but not that im getting my first house (ya  )
i will have a place to finaly work on her. and one of the things my dad wants me to try to do is convert the side post to top posts.
planing on getting a new optima battery to go along with the new cables
was wondering the gauge and length of cable i would need?
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/search/Battery+Cable/03318/C0005.oap?keyword=battery+cable&year=1979&make=Pontiac&model=Firebird&vi=1250604
would any of these work?

any info would be very helpful.

[racereaper7]

the gauge is 4 i think

[89flyboy]

Personally I like the side post they don't tend to carrode as much as the top ones do. Just my two cents. I am not sure the length on the pos the neg cable just depends where you want to ground it.

[racereaper7]

i was hoping to re cable it as stock location. my dad does not like the side posts,and asked me if there was a way to make them top posts. thanks for your input.

[4SPEED]

stock is side post

[racereaper7]

i know but he thinks it will be easier on him if it had top posts

[Mongo]

Listen to Dad.  Jumping a side post battery sucks in these cars. The top post would be so much better. The auto parts store should be able to tell you the length based on the original listings.

[eroc022]

they make dual terminal battery's... heck my optima is dual terminal.... I use the side posts, but if ever needed I can pop something on the top posts...

[racereaper7]

ya thats what started it,the bird has been in storage and i have been starting it every couple of days but because of the cold it has been killing the battery and jumping the side posts have been a pain.

[Wallington]

Or simply use a post conversion kit, allows use of post terminal cables with top mount leads or vice versa, stock leads with a top mount battery.

https://pontiworld.com.au/usgmsp/product_info.php?products_id=5722

[brian c]

You can just cut the ends off the battery cable, strip the insulation back abit and then make new ends for the top post battery. It's what I did for my conversion. My issue was that the side post adapters, once I got all the wiring on for the stereo, amp, power window conversion, upgraded wire to alt, etc was too close for my comfort to the inner fender.

Here's a link to the terminals I used for the conversion:

http://www.knukonceptz.com/productMaster.cfm?category=Battery%20Terminals

I used products BT-104N and BT-104P.

I had originally used GMBT but didn't like how it put the + battery wires so close to my inner fender.

[Justin]

If your cables are in good shape just make them top mounting. They sell the terminal adapters at almost any parts stores. You and actually just bolt the adapters to existing cable and then just bolt it onto your new battery. All the optimas I have seen have both  so it should be an easy enough conversion.

[racereaper7]

got everything to install but ended up needing a new battery tray.my grandpa forgot to put the original one back in. need some help this is how i have the battery now.im not sure if it will be ok as.i dont think so but i coould use some more advice.
-the battery hold down is a little to long and does not meet the end of the battery. ill try to take some pictures later today,it will help to see it than me tell you. any advice info would be great.

[racereaper7]

would it be ok to leave it as is?

[89flyboy]

If you tighten down the J hooks so that clamp is tight even though its past the end of the battery it should hold. If not you could always shorten up the clamp if you can just tack it back on. Or what about bending the end of the hold down just a bit on either side so it touches the battery? I am sure someone has better Ideas then me I have just had a battery move on my before so I am a bit overly cautious.
Josh