PDA

View Full Version : '69 L78 Camaro negative battery cable hookup


JHS
06-28-2007, 07:36 PM
According to the 1969 assembly manual in the L78 section showing the battery cable hookups, the diagram APPEARS to show the negative cable being attached to the upper alternator adjusting bracket where the heater hose bracket is attached. I have never seen this in pics or real life before so am unsure as to the proper location to hook up the cable. Most connections I have seen are to the water ppump but...

Mr70
06-28-2007, 07:40 PM
Is there a revision date given that applies to this subject in the bottom details box?
I ask because the EARLY assembled 1970 BB Chevelles had this same wire grounded at the front of the block,while later on assembled vehicles re-routed this same wire to ground at the upper alternator bkt.
Thought something similar might apply for the Camaro & it's two assembly plants/production times.

JHS
06-28-2007, 09:24 PM
I will have to look at the manual when I get home and check for a revision. I have always seen the neg. cable grounded at the water pump. The car I am working on is a COPO but I understand they were set up just like the L78. Grounding to the alt. bracket just does not look right and none of the pics of member cars show it this way so just wondered where they connected their's??

m22mike
06-29-2007, 06:23 AM
This should help

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/m22mike/COPOPaint243.jpg

JHS
07-02-2007, 10:48 PM
If that is the negative battery cable going up to the alt. bracket, then this does help. The top of the bracket is cut off so I can't really tell?? Have a pic from the top down?? Thanks for your help.

SS427
07-02-2007, 11:43 PM
Looks to me like it is grounded just in front of the #2 spark plug near the front of the head/block which would be correct in some applications.

SSJunkie68-69
07-02-2007, 11:58 PM
Follow this link : http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/221386/page/22/fpart/20/vc/1

Then go to post 221724. There's a picture Bruce took of my L89 that shows the negative battery cable grounded at the alternator bracket.

Hope it helps.

I tried to post the pic here but it was too big.

m22mike
07-03-2007, 06:27 AM
As far as I know, 69 BB Camaro's have the negative cable grounded just forward of #2 spark plug. re: the picture I posted. And small block's are grounded at the top Alternator bracket.
I will try and find some more pics and documentation tomorrow.
Mike

m22mike
07-03-2007, 06:51 AM
[ QUOTE ]
This should help

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/m22mike/COPOPaint243.jpg

[/ QUOTE ]


Here is another photo of the same car as above B4 restoration, it was a 69 COPO Camaro.
As a side note, note the placement of the original tune up sticker on the fan shroud.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/m22mike/copo040-1.jpg

Unreal
07-03-2007, 07:22 AM
I think the neg cable attaches to the block on all b/b in 69. I looked through my 69 AIM, and found no details of battery hookup for L78, or L34/35, for that matter, to confirm or discount that opinion. I did find a reference to grounding to the alt bracket for V8 engines in the electrical section, but I think that's for s/b only.
My correct 69 alt. bracket has 2 holes, about 1" apart. One is for the heater hose bracket, and the other is for? I guess it's possible the neg cable attached there, but I don't think so.
The alt. bracket in SSJunkie's pic is for 70 and up b/b, and has several extra holes. Is that bracket correct for any 69 b/b? Was it used on the late engines with the 3 letter CXX engine codes?

3macs1
07-03-2007, 02:53 PM
My correct 69 alt. bracket has 2 holes, about 1" apart. One is for the heater hose bracket, and the other is for?

I have checked what I have left and remember what I have sold just lately in 69/70 top BBC brackets. The second hole in the 69 was for a plastic clip in the alt harness.
None of the 69 upper brackets showed any indication of a battery cable being bolted to them. The 70's however some showed the outline of the battery cable star washer and some didnot. I cannot seem to get a date however when the revision came into place. I know a august 69 cast 454 didnot have the cable on the bracket but a jan 70 cast 402 did. Not sure if this helps or not.

JHS
07-03-2007, 04:34 PM
[ QUOTE ]
My correct 69 alt. bracket has 2 holes, about 1" apart. One is for the heater hose bracket, and the other is for? I guess it's possible the neg cable attached there, but I don't think so.

[/ QUOTE ]

From the pics I have seen it appears the second hole is for the plastic alt. wiring harness connector which usually plugs into the back of the alternator?? I have not seen any pics of the negative cable being grounded to the alt. bracket so will go with the front of #2 plug/block grounding per your picture. Thanks.

Unreal
07-03-2007, 08:44 PM
Brain Fawat.....My alt wire was on that hole before I pulled the motor to replace my cam.

So did early production 70 b/b use the 69 upper alternator bracket? When did the lower bracket change from the sleeve spacer to the offset?
If early 70 b/b used the 69 stuff, I assume the extended production Camaro b/b continued to use the 69 bracket, too.