Top Post Battery Cable Specs for a 1997 Chevy K3500 6.5 Diesel

[AngryBob_VA]

I just finished upgrading the battery cables on my '97 K3500 6.5L Diesel and I thought I'd post the measurements to the interwebs in case it helps someone out someday.

• "Military Style" top-post clamps.
• Measurements are center-to-center of the ring terminal bolt holes.
• This engine has the alternator on the passenger side (apparently they're not all the same).
• I used 2/0 for the load cables and 2ga for the rest. Lengths should still be the same if you use something else.

PS Battery+ to DS Battery+ (across radiator): 65 1/4", 2/0ga, 3/8" ring terminals.
* Points forward from the PS clamp.

PS Battery+ to Starter: 37", 2/0ga, 3/8" ring terminals.
* Starter needs a 90 degree outward bend on the terminal.

PS Battery- to Block: 31 1/2", 2/0ga, 3/8" ring terminals.

DS Battery- to Block: 28", 2/0ga, 3/8" ring terminals.

DS Battery+ to Fuse Block: 25 3/4", 2ga, 3/8" and 5/16" ring terminals.
* 5/16" terminal needs a 90 degree bend.

PS Battery+ to Alternator: 23 3/4", 2ga, 3/8" and 5/16" ring terminals.

PS Battery- to Body: 21", 2ga, 3/8" and 5/16" ring terminals.


I ordered 5' red 2ga, 5' black 2ga, 10' red 2/0ga, 10' black 2/0ga, and it was about the right amount of cable. I also ordered a 10 pack of 3/8" x 2ga ring terminals, a 10 pack of 5/16" x 2ga ring terminals, and a 10 pack of 3/8" X 2/0 ring terminals. There a lot of terminals leftover but they only came in packs of 10.

 

[PAE]

FYI: if you like the other side alternator mount better you can source the bracket and pulleys from various surplus sources as for several years the army and usmc used the 84-87 CUCV trucks with the 6.2L engine, as long as you are ok with the standard V belts the CUCV of this vintage used two alternators with isolated grounds, they had a 24V system.