Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

Can someone advise me if the correct size battery ground cable on a 41 is 00 ? Many thanks for your help.

00 is preferred but was not OEM.

I second the 00. With the battery at a distance away under the seat, to avoid excess voltage drop it helps to have as big a cable as you can fit.

Was 0 OEM? I saw what were advertised as "reproductions" of the '51-'56 cables on one of the wiring sites that were listed as 1 which seemed a bit small, especially for the 6v cars. What size did these cars originally have?

Count me in the double aught club. I use welding cable to retain some degree of flexibility, and use solder type cast ends that are not crimped. Although I'm not known to drag my battery cables across the garage floor, these cables also feature an abrasion resistant insulation covering that might be of some benefit if the cable touches the chassis. I have not found a source for the flat ground strap in a size anywhere near 2/0, so I use 'round' wire for both cables.
dp

Can't speak for all years and models of Packard but most 6-volt cars used "1" gauge battery cables. For sure go with "0" and especially if your battery is under the floor in the rumble seat as in some senior convertibles I'd say "00" is almost a must. And as DavidPackard points out, don't rely on simple crimped terminal ends.

I also use 00 cable and soldered on fittings on both my 39 and 51 Packard, and they make it much easier to start both cars, even in the cold. Both the hot and ground in 00. Not stock, but easy enough to change out for a show if I need to. Also on the 39, I ran another ground wire from the frame to the engine. Belts and suspenders, but the Packard and I are both happy.