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Tobs

Re: Mike's 53 Caribbean

#341

Home away from home

I'm in NY for 2 weeks, so will Stock up on some packard parts. I measured my negative battery cable, and it was something like 39-40 inches, which seems long, and is 1 gauge. Any suggestion on length 36-40? Guess I will go 0 or 00 from battercableusa.com
Here is a pic of what I have now. If this is original, I might keep it, but if it also aftermarket from the 70s or 80s I would upgrade to a thicker cable.

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20240504_225034.jpg (3,781.18 KB)

Posted on: 6/4 21:20

1953 Clipper Delux Club Sedan, 1953 Caribbean, 1969 912, 1990 Miata

kevinpackard

Re: Mike's 53 Caribbean

#342

Home away from home

Mike - for reference, my cable that I ordered was 33" from hole to hole. It was the perfect length...not short or too long. Your car should be basically the same as mine. Maybe order it an inch or two longer if you feel hesitant. But 39-40" seems really long. My car is still positive ground BTW, and my negative post is closer to the firewall.

00 gauge wire for the win.

-Kevin

Posted on: 6/5 0:03

Packard Don

Re: Mike's 53 Caribbean

#343

Home away from home

My notes have this:

1953 Packard Cable catalog shows 1U-30 or 1L-30 for the battery to switch cable and 5U-23 or 5L-23 for battery to ground for all 1951-53 Packard cars
The first number 1 indicates an insulated cable while 5 indicates a braided ground strap.
The second number U indicates a leaded brass terminal and L indicates a "leadalloy" terminal
23 and 30 indicates the approximate length in inches

These are Delco-Packard numbers. The cable currently in my 1954 Patrician is a Delco-Packard, probably 1E-41, but it is quite a bit longer than needed and for senior 1954 models, the solenoid has a larger post.

Posted on: 6/5 3:05

All generalities are false.

Don Pierson
Packard / IMPERIAL page
CA DMV Licensed Vehicle VIN Verification

1951 Henney-Packard 3-Door Long Wheelbase Air Force Ambulance
1954 Packard Patrician
1954 Packard Patrician Parts Car
1956 Clipper Custom Sedan

Tobs

Re: Mike's 53 Caribbean

#344

Home away from home

Thanks Kevin and Don,

The lug that attaches to the starter...is that 1/2 or 3/8 inch?

edit: after searching a few old posts here...It's a 3/8 Terminal

Posted on: 6/5 13:53

1953 Clipper Delux Club Sedan, 1953 Caribbean, 1969 912, 1990 Miata

kevinpackard

Re: Mike's 53 Caribbean

#345

Home away from home

Correct, it's a 3/8" connector at the post.

Posted on: 6/5 15:07

Packard Don

Re: Mike's 53 Caribbean

#346

Home away from home

I think the 3/8” is a 1954 senior size but not sure. Best to check your relay post first.

Posted on: 6/6 11:18

kevinpackard

Re: Mike's 53 Caribbean

#347

Home away from home

Quote:

Packard Don wrote:
I think the 3/8” is a 1954 senior size but not sure. Best to check your relay post first.

'

I guess it could be. That's what it is on my '54 Panama, which is not a senior, but the '54 Clippers were kind of a hodge-podge of parts. I have the massive solenoid on my starter, if that makes a difference.

Posted on: 6/6 11:58

Tobs

Re: Mike's 53 Caribbean

#348

Home away from home

I have a 53 delco starter, and a 54 delco starter with the big solenoid. They both have the same size terminals. It should be fine.

Posted on: 6/6 12:49

1953 Clipper Delux Club Sedan, 1953 Caribbean, 1969 912, 1990 Miata

Packard Don

Re: Mike's 53 Caribbean

#349

Home away from home

I think the difference is in semantics as the large one is an actual solenoid (physical motion) while the smaller one is a relay (electrical connection only). The solenoids have the large post while the relays have the smaller one.

Anyway, I see I asked the same question in my 1954 Packard Patrician thread and Howard gave one of his great and detailed answers.

Posted on: 6/6 16:13

Tobs

Re: Mike's 53 Caribbean

#350

Home away from home

These two posts/terminals I'm pretty certain are the same size....53 starter before I removed and started cleaning, and the other 54 unit loose that I cannot use because of amperge used to trigger the solenoid, not because any terminals are different sizes.

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