Battery Wiring Question

[Nodnarb76]

Three years ago, when I did my LS swap, I noticed my battery wires were a little too short. They still connect to everything just fine, they are just a little tighter than I would like.

I am looking to make my own battery cables. What gauge wire should I use to go to the starter? Also is there any type of wire I should use? I was wondering if I could use stereo power wire, or could I get some wire from Home Depot?

[1957 Chief]

Originally Posted by Nodnarb76

Three years ago, when I did my LS swap, I noticed my battery wires were a little too short. They still connect to everything just fine, they are just a little tighter than I would like.

I am looking to make my own battery cables. What gauge wire should I use to go to the starter? Also is there any type of wire I should use? I was wondering if I could use stereo power wire, or could I get some wire from Home Depot?

I used 2/0 wire for my starter wire, and grounds from battery to engine/engine to frame-x2

Bubba

[85gmcguy]

I use McMaster-Carr for a lot of these kinds of things.

https://www.mcmaster.com/battery-cable

They sell all of the ends, too. Most you can get with solder already applied.

[grndcont]

Do not use home depot wire. The vibration associated with a vehicles engine is too much for the large strand wire you will find there. I just went to summit for mine.

[Bloodhound]

I just got a custom set made from these guys. Very good prices and arrived within like 3 days from ordering. The quality is top notch.

https://www.batterycablesusa.com/

[Nodnarb76]

Thanks guys, I didn't know about those two websites. I will stay away from Home Depot and will order from one of those sites.
Thanks again!

[mongocanfly]

My local parts store can make cables to whatever length you want....they have the ends and crimp them on...look like factory...

[hatzie]

Stock battery cables were 2AWG (32mm²)
A starter in good condition will draw somewhere between 60 & 200 Amps.
While 2AWG is not sized for 200A continuous it is or 150amps and it works just fine for the few seconds it takes to spin the starter. Three feet of fine stranded copper in this gauge just doesn't have enough resistance to make a significant difference... The quality of the connector attachments to the cable will make more of a difference in this application than the additional 7mm² wire crossection.
1AWG will carry enough current that the field windings in the starter will burn out before the wire gets hot enough to matter. Honestly if the stock 2AWG cables get hot or even just warm you've probably caused damage to the starter by melting the lacquer on the wire of the windings.

1AWG and 1/0 or 2AWG and 2/0 are not the same wire gauge even tho people often confuse the two. 1/0 is another way of writing 0AWG and 2/0 is another way of writing 00AWG, 3/0 is 000AWG, and 4/0 is 0000AWG.

The LS doesn't use the big heavy expensive direct drive Delco starter either. Gear reduction starters draw significantly less current than direct drive and they're just plain smaller and lighter. You can use smaller cables and smaller, cheaper, batteries with a lower current draw starter. This is why Chrysler was using them in the 1960's... the 383 in my 69 Polara was gear reduction. My grandfather's 67 pickup and 66 New Yorker had a gear reduction starters as well. It took GM and Ferd another 40 years to grow a brain.

[SunSoaked]

I just learnt something new! Thanks for sharing that info Hatzie.