66 67 Chevy Corvette C2 original Correct BATTERY CABLE Set top post spring ring

Battery cables, for the reproduction market, have become a controversial issue when it comes to quality. Several vendors are now actively producing products to meet the market demand.

Our battery cables are produced with an eye toward quality. Therefore, in order to help our customers in the selection of battery cables we've assembled a list of guidelines that we use in cable construction and you can use in cable evaluation. The technology employed in the production of battery cables may not be readily apparent when you first look at the cables. Original designs and our current reproduction designs must address the following issues:

Spring Steel Inserts - To comply with original factory specifications, all our reproduction spring-ring battery cables employ a quality spring steel insert molded directly within the lead terminal. The purpose of the insert is to maintain the shape of the battery post opening and to keep the lead from deforming upon repeated opening and closing of the lead terminal. This insert is molded into the lead terminal head. In some cases, such as in the original "Spring Ring" design, it is an integral part of the opening and closing operation and is quite visible. Most inexpensive battery cables, and cheap after market replacements, do not employ this spring steel insert.

Lead Composition -The chemical composition of the lead is critical to the production and behavior of the lead terminal. Original factory specifications call for a very specific mix of elements in the lead terminal. This mix can affect the strength, brittleness, and appearance of the finished product. Bright lead indicates an excellent mold and a recently manufactured part. However, all lead oxidizes and will turn dark over time.  Dielectric lubricants or Vaseline petroleum jelly is recommended for installation to help prevent oxidation on the terminals.

Wire Gauge - Many production battery cables were produced using 6 gauge wire. During the late 1950's and early 1960's, the demands on the electrical system were not significant enough to warrant larger gauge wire. However, air conditioning, power seats and windows, high compression motors, etc. placed greater demands on the electrical system and the battery itself. Original factory equipment was enhanced by heavy-duty charging systems options. These systems employed 4 gauge and 2 gauge battery cables in production automobiles. In today's world, it is foolish to consider using a 6 gauge cable when a factory heavy-duty 4 gauge cable was available as an original equipment option. Beware of "heavy wall" cable that is nothing more than extra PVC insulation over a 6 or even 8 gauge cable made to look like a 4 gauge cable.

Wire Composition - While the wire gauge is important, the actual copper wire characteristics are also important. The copper wire within the cable is made up of a specific number of individual strands which must be the correct gauge. These strands bundled together determine the current carrying capability of the cable. This is another one of those items that can't be seen on the outside but plays a critical part in the quality of the cable.

Wire Coatings - Most production battery cables were constructed with PVC coating capable of temperature ranges from -40 deg. F to 176 deg. F. This is acceptable for most applications. Unfortunately, there are different grades of PVC coatings that do not provide this range of protection. The difference is not detectable to the untrained eye. Wire coatings are available that provide protection from -60 deg. F to 275 deg. F that are only marginally more expensive to produce. These materials are being used today, and in some cases, were used in the 1970's. All of our battery cables comply with, or exceed, the original factory specifications for wire coverings.

Mold Quality - Simple things like absence of metal flashing, even mold parting lines, lettering, etc. all contribute to the quality of the finished product. The aesthetic appearance of the product does not affect its functionality. However, this is not a reason to compromise appearance for the sake of reducing the initial tooling costs of the product.

There are many more technical issues to be considered in the construction of battery cables which are beyond this basic discussion. The main point to consider is that compromises made in the product design and raw materials do in fact compromise the quality of the final product. Therefore, when you buy a cheap cable, you get a cheap cable.

Let Midway Muscle Car be your supplier of quality battery cables.