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HH56 - Interesting setup. I'll consider that as an option. My wife doesn't like the idea of cutting the floormat (and neither do I), so the terminal post one is probably not an option anyway. The knife blade version could work, but I can't seem to find one that takes a high enough amperage. The lever with a clevis and rod might be the best bet.

Side question - Everything online says to hook up your positive terminal first and then the negative. But I'm assuming because these cars are 6 volt positive ground, that should be reversed. Similarly, I should be hooking this shutoff to the positive side and not the negative (even though most products say to hook up on the negative side) for the same rationale. Would that be the correct logic? Thanks!

To those who have offered suggestions on products, would this one be satisfactory? It has "500A rated current, 5000A instantaneous current". It says it is 12v-36v, but I assume that isn't an issue. Same for it saying it is intended for the negative terminal setup, whereas I would want to use it on positive since that is the ground.

amazon.com/dp/B0BX346SX3/ref=sspa_dk_det ... sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWwy

Thanks!

Sacre bleu, Packriots, your Chrysler is an exceptionally lovely hue. Have never seen such a rationally sized car equipped with a second windscreen. Your Model 143 Single Eight should be visible even to the most cellphone-distracted motorist.

The switch you show above looks much like the Cole Hersees i've used in my '40 and '47 Packards since the late '70s, but for the added bracket, which seems a nuisance. As for your wife wisely not wanting the cars harmed, in my earlier Packard, only the shaft of the on/off lever went through a small hole in the floor and carpet; there was no cutting. Simple, convenient, no Rube Goldberg.

A late supercharged '37 Cord Phaeton-owning friend recounted how, in his callow youth, spiritedly driving in the '40s over a railroad grade crossing, his under-seat battery, not well secured and the covering hatch not in place, kissed its terminals momentarily against the bottom of the seat springs, for additional excitement. We pop riveted a very thin piece of aircraft ply to the underside of my '40 Packard's hatch cover, all the better as I was using not the Group II called for in the 120/160, and previous year's 319-ci Super-8, but a Group IV, used in the Packard Twelve. It b a r e l y squeezed through the opening in the floor to nestle in the underfloor battery box without taking my fingers with it.
Those were the days before the excellent Optima 800 cold cranking amp, 18 lb. Red Top 6-volt battery, which i also recommend. Know of a fellow readily starting his Cad V-16 with one, another with a '41 Cad getting 14 years service; a decade for me. In the win-win-win of no off-gassing, nor corroded terminals, less weight, which as anyone enjoying sport, GT, or road car, luxe or not, knows is the enemy.

You've a pair of sharp cars.

Marine grade for 6-12-36-volt applications. 250-amp rating at 6 volts, 15-second continuous. And you never want to grind your starter--or should have to -- longer than that. They've gone up in price a little, so shop around. Brass or silver contacts. There are cheaper ones out there, but these are durable, solidly made:

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su8overdrive - Thank you again for your continued help with my issues! I'm definitely learning as I go. You stated 250amp rating, but I'm not seeing that. I'm seeing a couple different variations - 175A/1000A and 175A/800A. I'm not sure if those numbers are reflected for a 36v setup in which case would the amperage be much higher for 6v? They also state 15 seconds on, 5 minutes off. I do agree that I wouldn't run the starter more than 15 seconds - in fact, I usually limit it at 8-10 seconds. But would that mean I couldn't try to start again for 5 minutes? Or am I misunderstanding the "5 minutes off" part? If either car doesn't start in 8-10 seconds, I usually wait about 30 seconds and try again, but being a newbie, maybe I'm doing that wrong. The benefit of the Cole Hersee model is that the stem is very long. I'd have to go through 3/4" of wood, which would in fact spare me the Rube Goldberg device.

I only recently discovered the Optima battery, but alas I've just purchased new batteries in each car, so I'll just wait until it is time to replace them.

Thanks for the compliments on the cars! The Chrysler is a Model 75 Dual Cowl Phaeton. I've been told there are only 13 of them known to still exist. It won national AACA awards in 2000 and 2001. The Packard was reportedly originally owned by William Clark - former MT Senator and copper mine king who Clark County, Nevada is named after.