The_Avaricious88

Can some body tell me how to remove battery cables from a 72 cutlass 350 rocket.

crazy'boutOlds

The positive goes to the starter.
The negative should be bolted to the cylinder head on the drivers side

The_Avaricious88

I mean how do I remove the positive its in a (what seems to me) hard to reach place I see where it is I just can't really see how to go about pulling it out

joe_padavano

I had a hunch that was your actual question. Unfortunately, you need to drop the starter to get access to the other end of the battery cable. The cable attaches to a threaded post on the starter solenoid, which is part of the starter motor. You may need to remove the dust cover under the torque converter to remove the starter. The starter has two bolts that go up into the block and a strap on the side. This strap may have been left off if the starter has been out before. You should disconnect the + cable from the battery to allow slack at the starter end so you can lower the starter. Note that the stock starter weighs about 20 tons - well, it FEELS that way when you're on your back holding it up with one hand while trying to get the bolts started with the other.

Also, be careful as you lower the starter not to pull the smaller wires loose. And as you try to loosen the nut holding the battery cable, be careful that the stud doesn't spin in the bakelite housing on the end of the solenoid, cracking it. Don't ask my how I know these things...

The_Avaricious88

Lol thanks

Lady72nRob71

Yep, torque converter plastic cover must come off first.
Exhaust pipe might have to be disconnected also, but that depends on your car.
On mine the starter wedged on the pipe just right for me to undo the wires, then I shoved it back and it fell out.
Of course it was easier with no suspension, wheels, wheel wells and all that unnecessary stuff...



American Autowire has a supurb reproduction set of battery cables, available at Rockauto!

BlackGold

One thing I haven't seen anyone mention yet is to PLEASE first disconnect the cables at the battery before attempting to disconnect at the starter. Otherwise you will quickly learn how to arc weld using nothing more than a wrench! That might be obvious to some, but it's the kind of thing I'd forget ....

Incidentally, I know that everyone always attaches the negative cable to the left head, but if you look in the assembly manual it's actually supposed to be attached to the block, down behind the power steering pump. At least that's how it is in '70. The reason everyone goes for the head instead is that, not only is it easier to access, but in order to use the hole in the block behind the pump you need a very special bolt.

66ninetyeightls

SHHHH!!!!!..... What are you trying to do ruin all of our fun??????

Lady72nRob71

Dang...

starfire

Joe told him to disconnect the cable at the battery first.

joe_padavano

That's because you didn't read my earlier post:

lshlsh2

I got lucky and was able to replace the pos. cable without dropping the starter. I let my 13 year old son do it with his small hands. He was able to do it in about 30 min. He came out from underneath the car covered in grease with a big smile.
I think that is what restoration is all about.
Larry

66ninetyeightls

Good thinking. Get the job done and boost his confidence.

RetroRanger

thats how mine was on my 72 i just replaced it kind of a PITA, I put the new one in the same location. I checked my 71 and its mounted on the alternator bracket defintely been replaced before

BlackGold

I need to learn how to read more carefully.