Question re: running battery cable up transmission tunnel

[52 Dodge Coronet]

I've relocated the battery to the trunk of my car, and am presently running the positive cable along the left subframe connector and into the engine compartment; then up alongside the steering shaft, coupler and box, making a loop before it heads back down to the starter. I found it necessary to do it this way to avoid having the cable interfere with the pitman arm and center link.

I've been told I should instead run the cable up the inside of the transmission tunnel, punch a large hole in the tunnel right at the starter location, put a big grommet in the hole, and run the cable through that. I want to try it.

Do I need to pull the transmission to do this job, do you think? Has anybody done it without pulling the tranny?

Thanks!

 

[Cranky]

You can run it up along the inner fender too. If you run it high in the engine compartment, then it shouldn't come close to the steering parts etc.

 

[65hemi]

I have my cable inside the car, on the driver side next to the tail light wiring harness. Then goes through the firewall through the clutch rod hole; need to drill a different hole if you need a clutch.

 

[theman440]

If you have a driveshaft failure it could sever/short the cable and cause a fire - not sure if that is a good idea or not IMO.

 

[mopar 3 B]

Why not just hooking the positive cable to the starter and running a jumper to the relay to power ever thing else. The starter is the largest power draw anyway. If you are using a driveshaft safety loops just keep the cables out of the loops and anywhere the driveshaft could hit then.

 

[52 Dodge Coronet]

I'm not really understanding this, Cranky. Pardon me if I am being dumb, but if you run the cable in high in the engine compartment as you say, then how is it going to get back down to the starter without going past the exhaust manifold and steering coupler?

 

[52 Dodge Coronet]

@Mopar 3B: The problem is getting the cable to the starter in the first place. I don't understand how you are saying I should route it. Would you explain in more detail, please?

 

[Cranky]

I'm the one being dumb and not thinking about it. mopar 3 B is doing what I've done in the past.....

 

[mopar 3 B]

@Mopar 3B: The problem is getting the cable to the starter in the first place. I don't understand how you are saying I should route it. Would you explain in more detail, please?

If you have clearance on the left frame rail so the header does not melt the wire run it down the frame rail to the starter hole in the header and attach it to the starter. A smaller short wire can be routed from the starter to the starter relay to power the rest of the vehicle systems.

 

[Jeremiah]

I always run them inside the car.

 

[383man]

This pic shows you about where my cable comes out from inside my car as I run mine inside the car on my 63 Sport Fury. I run about a 12" cable off the battery pos to a Ford type starter solenoid I use in the trunk and then I run the cable from the other side of the Ford solenoid under my carpet and along the left side rocker panel. I drilled a small hole in the firewall just below the power brake booster and the cable comes out there and goes under the steering shaft to the starter. Hope this pic helps some. The battery cable is the red cable coming out from under the brake booster and master cyl to the starter and it goes under the steering shaft. The other red cable is my shifter cable. The reason I use the solenoid in the trunk is I only want the large battery cable to the starter hot when cranking just in case it would short out. I run a 10 gauge wire from the battery pos to my kill switch in the trunk and then up to the starter relay on the firewall where the car picks up its hot feed. I use a 70 amp in-line fuse right of the battery on the 10 gauge feed wire in case it would short so that its fused. Ron