Topic: 1970 CJ starter cable routing

[67350#1242]

Say Jeff are you sure?   Pics look like battery ground cable not starter cable?

[J_Speegle]

Say Jeff are you sure?   Pics look like battery ground cable not starter cable?

Dropped the second picture. Just up loaded the other one and thought it could help here only as a picture that shows the starter cable to the solenoid. Not really in question but at least shows retaining hardware there

[1970 Snake]

I was doing a search on starter cables for my mustang and found this thread which is over 1.5 years old, but found it interesting enough that I had to respond as to what my car had on it. I too bought my new cable setup from Marti a number of years ago and bought two J straps also because that is what my cable was mounted with, but now find that both are incorrect for my application, cable to short and J straps long and small hole.

I have the same cable setup as Carl has indicated and would like to post my findings also as my car is a very early Dearborn built 1970 Mach 1. The cable is around 45 to 46 inch long and has two short J straps with holes for the 1/2" plain head bolts like the grounding cable, which attach it to the block along the oil pan where the notches in the windage tray are.

I can not find an engineering number on the cable or Canada on the ends, so assume it is the one manufactured without and had a tag by the solenoid.  Additionally besides the two shorter J straps the mesh insulation sheath needs to be 14" long as the Marti and Dead Nuts cables only have 9" which is to short to bolt the straps to the block using the threaded mounting holes. I have included the Marti parts in the pics for a visual comparison and the three bolts are the original bolts for the start and ground cable mounting, I just had them plated in silver zinc.

So to this end, I am not clear if Marti or some other manufacture is now building or going to build the correct cable and J straps to match what was originally on my car?


 

[sah62]

We had a similar discussion on the 428 Cobra Jet registry forum: https://www.428cobrajet.org/forum/index.php?topic=25106.0

Cutting to the chase, I believe the D0ZF-C cable, 6ga, 45" in length, is the one you want. Ed Meyer reproduced the J-straps.

[1970 Snake]

Thanks Scott, I did read through your registry forum thread before my post here, all interesting. There was talk of Marti custom building some cables in #4 gage cable @ 45" long, do you know if that ever happened??
The problem for me is to find a cable #4 or #6 gage @ 45 " long that has 14" of mesh type insulator sheath on it else it will NOT match my original factory cable install as a shorter covering will not locate in both J straps because of the distance between the bolt holes on the block. Also my J straps are in very good condition and will get them plated in silver zinc and reuse the rubber grommets, if not I can get some from Ed Meyer.

[sah62]

There was talk of Marti custom building some cables in #4 gage cable @ 45" long, do you know if that ever happened??

I don't know, but I do know that they can sometimes make one-offs of some parts. They made some custom-stamped accessory belts for me, for example. It might be worth a phone call to see what they're able and willing to do.

[1970 Snake]

Scott, I spoke with Eric at Marti and he indicated that they now have available two starter cables that are 46" long with 14" mesh sleeves, one has an DOZF-14431 engineering number, he was not sure if it was a -A or -C and the other is plain with no markings. Mine cable is plain with no markings and I will purchase that, but would also like to get the correct tag that goes on it, do you know who makes the ID tags for that cable?

[sah62]

ECS Automotive maybe?

[1970 Snake]

Thanks, I guess I spoke to soon and for future reference, upon review Marti has advise that their unmarked cable is 48" long and the marked cable is a C8ZF and is only 44" long and not 46" long, but both have 14" looms.

[specialed]

ecs makes the white paper id tag for cables as I sent him original c8zf and doof and dozf tags to make copies years ago.

[1970 Snake]

Much appreciated for the update, do you know which tag I need for my version of the cable as mine was missing the tag, and has no markings and is plain?

[Mike_B_SVT]

... Marti has advise that their unmarked cable is 48" long and the marked cable is a C8ZF and is only 44" long and not 46" long, but both have 14" looms.

Do you know Marti's part number for the long, unmarked cable?  I looked on their site but I'm only seeing the same old battery cables listed.  I don't know the "secret handshake" to get to the page where they keep the good stuff ;-)

~ I'm thinking that with the longer cable I'll be able to use the shorter sleeve from the repro cable I already have, and basically "recreate" the original cable that came off my car.  ...unless someone knows how I can just order a correct Boss 429 version of cables?  (I believe Ed mentioned the B9 cars having the 1 cable clamp version of battery cable, like what was on my early Oct CJ).

[1970 Snake]

If you want the 48" plain cable call Marti and speak to Eric, he will advise you on how to order the cable you want as they need to be ordered via email and he will give you the address when you call. Regarding putting a shorter loom on the cable, it comes with a 14" long loom and what I would do is just shorten the one that comes already on it, because the loom does not fit over the end of the cable at least not on the one I have, and believe they are installed on the cable before the end connection is molded.

[1970 Snake]

Scott regarding the tag from ECS, I check all my decals from ECS and NDP and I already have a D00F-14431-D TSX Autolite tag for the starter cable from ECS. Can you or someone advise approximately where on the cable the tag is mounted, I believe someone mentioned near the solenoid connect stud, an approximate distance from that connection point would be great to know.

[sah62]

Scott regarding the tag from ECS, I check all my decals from ECS and NDP and I already have a D00F-14431-D TSX Autolite tag for the starter cable from ECS. Can you or someone advise approximately where on the cable the tag is mounted, I believe someone mentioned near the solenoid connect stud, an approximate distance from that connection point would be great to know.

You might want to read this before settling on the D0OF-D cable: http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=15599.0

If it's 41" long, it's too short. The D0ZF-C cable is about 46.5" long and, as mentioned in the topic from the registry forum, was confirmed as original on at least one car. I had some labels made so I could have one for my car, and I have several left over. I don't have an exact installation measurement taken from an original cable, though. I just placed mine a few inches down from the lug near the starter solenoid and called it a day. The ECS web site says this: "Cable routes from starter solenoid to starter terminal. Tag is located approximately 11 inches down the wire from the point that it connects to the solenoid. Note: 1964 1/2 to 1967 did not have a tag. The part numbers were printed directly on the wire."