hooking up starter and Battery

[jmargush]

I am in the process of putting the car together after two years of restoration.
Is the positive battery cable black (in a 74) and does it go directly to the starter with the red leads from the harness attaching to the block on the battery terminal?
Also I assume there is a red wire from the alternator that goes to the same post on the starter is this correct?

Any help would be appreciated so I can strat putting this all back together.

[Rouser]

Sounds like you have everything "positively" (pun intended) in hand.

Considering the age of our beloved vehicles, most have probably had to replace the (+) cable between the battery and starter, and have installed the standardized red cable, but I do believe both of the battery cables were originally covered in black sleaving; way too easy to install bass-ackwards, if you ask me.

The alternator lead does connect to the same terminal on the starter as the (+) battery cable. And don't forget to connect the alternator harness' spade lead for the starter soleniod, otherwise you'll be chasing a non-engaging starter problem for no damn reason.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Sounds like the voice of experience, LOL!! I think that's one I haven't done--yet... I did forget that red wire from the alternator, though, and wondered why my battery light stayed on....

--DD

[Rouser]

Yep, had a friend who was ripping his clothes in frustration when his '74 wouldn't start after installing a new set of battery cables. Somehow he managed to knocked that particular lead loose, than it recoil back along side the spade, giving the impression it was attached.

Luckily I brought my trusty multimeter, figuring I was going to be checking the ignition switch or whatever. I crawled underneath to take a reading of that very lead, noticed it was playing 'possum, and said, "If I connect this here lead to this here spade, and you turn that there key, I can almost bet this P-O-S will start right up."

Of course, it did, and it took all my composure to keep him from driving a claw hammer into his skull.