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How many years did Chevrolet use Spring ring battery cables?? thx….Billu38

Too long, they were an absolute pain if the battery was disconnected often as they lost the clamp pressure.
Tony

The earliest I have found is 1962 and latest 1969. Not sure that is 100% accurate.

Bill,
As Chip already said they used them starting in 1962, and I know they used them up through 64, but I am not sure how much further after that. The spring ring cables were superceded to the clamp type terminal but still retained the same part numbers in Delco catalogs as the spring rings used, as they were a direct replacement. With one exception I had found. The NOS Delco service parts do not have the full run of wire to the voltage regulator, they have crimp butt splice to tap into the existing regulator connector. That way the same service replacement cable could be used on the 61-62, as the 63-64's that used a different regulator connection. The original factory installed cables were direct to the regulator with no splice. The Chevrolet part numbers will differ while Delco does not. On the full size cars like yours 4F-53 is the positive and 1964 they went from a 4F-22 to a 4F-30 on the negitive. I really did not look into why they went to the 30" negitive cable on the 64's. That was the last year of that chassis/platform, so it is strange that they would make a production change that late on a run.

The spring ring cables were used in other GM vehicles also. I know they were used as late as 1970 on some Buicks, I am not sure when they stopped on Chevrolets. I will do some digging tomorrow and see what I come up with, should be easy enough to find

I have found references to '69 Nova and Camaro using spring clamp cables. Corvettes used them for several years. Think they started in '62 but not completely sure when they switched to side mounts. Side mounts appear to be what they went to after the spring clamps. The idea with side mounts is to get the connection away from the acid gas that comes out of the battery vents and accelerates corrosion of the post/cable connection.

Camaro changed to side post batteries in early May 1969 unless the HD battery option was ordered & that was only a top post battery....Joe

It did start in 1962

Maybe once we have a bunch of folks that have posted what they know or have found someone will summarize it into a table or ? Then it can be used as a reference in the case someone else wants to know if his cables are correct.

spring ring battery cables were used in the corvettes starting in 63 and were used at least thru the end of 67 production. repos have been available for the past 20+ years(Lectric Limited corp) . it should be noted the repos are squared off(90 degree angle) where the top and sides of the terminal meet, whereas originals slope at the interface. mike

1970 was last year used on fullsize Chevy's,unless HD battery ordered then it was side post. Jim

Thanks to all…good info….Billu38

Billu38: You might try corvette central they have the type of cables your looking for.
www.corvettecentral.com

The Corvettes are usually a different length than the full size Impala…but I'll look again..thx..Billu38

Bill, Show Cars in New Ulm Minnesota have the exact reproduction cables for your 64. They specialize in 58-64 full size, and their re-pop stuff is dead on. I have been buying stuff from them for over 20 years.

Thanks John…just ordered their catalogue…never really heard of them but looks like they've got lots of parts…thx…Billu38