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OK guys, I'm gettin my Optima Yellow Top tomorrow and I was just wondering if you guys suggested that I go ahead and replace my existing, old, beaten up, corroded, ugly battery cables before switching to the new found power source

Any ideas? If you think I should, how hard is that to do and where should I get the cables?

Thanks guys!

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Bigkahuna808

I got a blue top and am still using the OEM power lines. The only thing is that I had to extend the power and ground cables to meet the oposite terminals on the blue top. But none the less blue tops rule.....

jacksonpt

I'm using stock cables with my yellow top. I had to extend the white wire that runs to the fuse box, that's it. It was a tight fit, that's for sure, but they work.

To piggy back on this tread... I hope to be installing a 1" BL soon, and I'll definitely need new cables for that. I called around to a couple of local parts shops and no one sells battery cables - they look at me like I'm an idiot for asking about them. Anyone know where I can get some?

shazaam

well if the old ones are rusted, and really worn I would go ahead and extend them. Mine were fine, and I just driller two holes on opposite ends of a copper plate and extended the + wire ... the negative fit just fine

Fink

When you say extend them you just mean cut off the stock connectors and attach new ones onto the cut end of the old cables? If I'm going to have to extend them I'll just go ahead and get all new cables (or connectors)

I think the bottomline is that I'm confused on what you actually do to "replace" or "extend" the existing cables...

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bike4miles

Extending the wires with a spice is an invitaion for some serious corosion. I did away with my stock gound and replaced it with a new 4g one piece wire with the terminal cast on the end (not bolted). I kept the old positve wire but I plan on getting a new one evnetually. I also plan on bolting on a few new ground leads from the motor to the frame for a more direct ground conection. If you don't have a sterio system, you don't really need to go to that extent. Just make sure you have some good clean cables of at leas 8g.

Bigkahuna808

Im using a ground kit copy. What this basicly is is 6 4 guage power wires leading off the negative terminal to various ground point on the bay. Like the alternator, chassi, manifold, firewall, ect..... But I plan on getting rid of that, and going to ground straps....

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Thats the thing...I do have a system, and the amp is about go get bigger, and I also have fog lights that I need to be able to run along with the system while the truck is off.

I may just take it to my dealer and have them do it for me because of the discount I can get there...I'm not sure what I'll do yet.

I just really don't want to put those old corroted cables on my new battery...I may put some coke on them so the corrosion will go away, will the coke hurt my fog light or sound system cables? I hope not...thanks for all the help guys!

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Bigkahuna808

Im running a DB setup on the truck and the blue top only give me minor beneftes. My amp for my sub is 1400 watts and the amp for my seperates are 600 watts. To control voltage I have a blue top optima, a 400 series bat cap, and 0/1 guage power wires.I also have fog lights, and a headlight lighting system. When I pound my sounds at idle, my voltage goes from 14.4 down to 11.8. And my truck beings to stutter. So all this dowes little when you want to push the envlope on the voltage question. I need a new alternator to sustain my voltage problome. I can't even think of running anything more off the stock alternator it already strains to power what I have now. Any one running HO alternators out there in a 3rd gen??

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Got it all hooked up and workin...had some serious battery acid in the bottom of the battery tray and all over the fenders, but I got that cleaned up and soaked the whole area in a heavily concentrated baking soda/water "bath"...everythings all cleaned up and ready to go. I have noticed a big improvement on the actual drain of the battery when using my system and fog lights, overall I'm very pleased with the battery so far

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Cebby

Are the yellow terminals on the right sides? They are on a blue top..

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OK...I only had 2 hours of sleep last night and I've been studyin all night but for some reason that didn't make any sense to me...

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