Whutdidyousay

I'm going to replace my battery very soon and want to build my own cables...
I need to know what all to replace, other than the obvious positive & negative cables. I also need a good idea on how much cable to buy.
I'd optimally like to replace every serviceable ground.... But I don't need to go crazy.

I have seen several different "upgrade" cable kits from a lot of places for xj's... I want to do my own.

cruiser54

www.kelleyswip.com has lengths listed on his website. I'd price them already built from him, too. IIRC, someone posted that for what he sells them for, it wasn't worth bulding their own unless they had the cable laying around already.

Whutdidyousay

I appreciate it, but I'm adding some aux cables to under the seat & rear cargo area, also might add a 2nd battery. Thanks for the link.

5-90

I can do those as well - just give me measurements, and I'll fire back a quote.

The catch is usually the tooling, a good crimper can get spendy for large-gage stuff. I have the tooling from a few jobs ago, and I'd deducted it as an "unreimbursed employee expense" that year (I'll usually buy my own specialty tools for a job, I invariably need them after I no longer need the job. You should see my toolboxen...)

So, I didn't have to amortize, annualize, or whatever the IRS wants you to do with business equipment when you buy it, because I already had it (and as an UEI, I could deduct it in toto the year I got it, rather than amortizing it over five years.)

Link also in sig.

Whutdidyousay

I appreciate it man, but I already have the crimping press that I custom built in my VW days.... I hear you do awesome work though.

5-90

No worries - the tooling is the expensive bit. After that, it's mainly materials and time.

I'm here if you need help, tho! Hit me backchannel if you get stuck.

Whutdidyousay

What battery are y'all running? I think a group 58 is what it calls for, but i'm thinking about something more substantial.... Is it a 37 or 34? I borrowed one from my father in law... I can't afford a gel battery,

cruiser54

Get the highest CCA battery that you can for your application.

Whutdidyousay

Ooh, yeah, i'm Gunna. I think they are both rated 880/1000 @ 32 degrees. Just can't remember the size and was thinking of picking it up while I'm in town. My jeep isn't with me right now.

Gee oh Dee

I run a red top here in WI. Yellow tops are pretty common on this forum, although through personal experience and my readings here on this forum Optima has a poor reputation.

Whutdidyousay

I did the optima route a few years ago. I'll never do that again. I'd rather buy an old school battery twice.

Whutdidyousay

Figured it out... When I got home. Now I gotta go get a new one tomorrow, and work on my new cables tonight.

5-90

BCI Group 58 is OEM, but BCI Group 34 will also fit - and give you some more options.

The Optima AGM battery, for instance is BCI 34/78 (34 for top post apps, 78 for side posts.) BCI 34/78 is commonly adapted into other vehicles, and it's easier to get wedged into place than BCI24 (the most common size, but larger,) or BCI27 (even bigger - often used in trucks and RVs.)

Whutdidyousay

^^^^ what he said... Lol.

I'll tell you for sure that the 34 I put in there makes my starter sound like a grinder (in a good way) now. 10x better than the Lil 58.

I did discover today that placement is crucial... The spring loaded hood release by the battery got stuck under the battery lip. Be careful if you put in the larger battery. Easy fix, but I didn't notice it until now.