Frank Y Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 This summer I'm hoping to change the location of my battery box if I can ever find a 2nd fuel tank. Im looking for some detail on how the battery cables should be routed when they come out of the battery box. Im thinking they go under the frame rail and mount to the inside. Oh, and if anyone has a 70 gal? driver side square steel tank that matches or is similar to the one in the picture let me know. I think it may be similar to an R tank but not sure. Thanks! Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/69264-b-61-battery-cable-routing/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freightrain Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 Drivers side was a 50 gallon and it stuck back past the rear of the cab. I used two 40s to allow dual stacks on my truck. The brackets are the same. 1 Quote Larry 1959 B61 Liv'n Large...................... Charter member of the "MACK PACK" Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/69264-b-61-battery-cable-routing/#findComment-489880 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattb73lt Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 Are you running a 12 volt starter? When I converted my B42, I added two R model battery boxes. I probably only needed one with two six volt batteries in series. Anyway, I ran the cables under the boxes and up the left frame rail on the left box. Out of the right box, underneath the box, up the right rail to the cross member under the cab back, then over to the left rail to join the others. So I have four cables to the starter, 2 pos and 2 neg, attached to the studs on it. I used 2/0 AWG welding cable as it easy to form the bends needed. 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/69264-b-61-battery-cable-routing/#findComment-489885 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Y Posted February 20, 2022 Author Share Posted February 20, 2022 Thanks for the responses. The tank that I have on there now is a 40 and it's 27" long. I won't be doing dual stacks and the battery box will stay on the P/S. Yes, I'm running a 12v starter with 2, 12v batteries in parallel. Something happened to this truck in its lifetime, on the driver side. I figured this awhile ago, but looking today, the fuel tank brackets are different from right side and left. There's also a spot below the driver door that's bent under. You can kinda see it in the pic. I'm guessing they took the P/S tank and moved it to the driver, and put the battery box in its place. Looks goofy and I'm changing it back........hopefully. If I find a tank. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/69264-b-61-battery-cable-routing/#findComment-489895 Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeH Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 11 hours ago, Frank Y said: This summer I'm hoping to change the location of my battery box if I can ever find a 2nd fuel tank. Im looking for some detail on how the battery cables should be routed when they come out of the battery box. Im thinking they go under the frame rail and mount to the inside. Oh, and if anyone has a 70 gal? driver side square steel tank that matches or is similar to the one in the picture let me know. I think it may be similar to an R tank but not sure. Thanks! I've got 2 square tanks from a 1976 U model you're welcome to. I'm just down 309 in Chalfont PA. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/69264-b-61-battery-cable-routing/#findComment-489907 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freightrain Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 You'll only need one battery box with it being 12v. It will start easily with just two batteries in parallel. Keep the box on the passenger side and run the cables up under the frame and up to the starter. Go with big cables! I think mine were 4/0? (Mine has air start now so I removed all the big cables). Quote Larry 1959 B61 Liv'n Large...................... Charter member of the "MACK PACK" Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/69264-b-61-battery-cable-routing/#findComment-489936 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Y Posted February 21, 2022 Author Share Posted February 21, 2022 17 hours ago, JoeH said: I've got 2 square tanks from a 1976 U model you're welcome to. I'm just down 309 in Chalfont PA. Check your inbox. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/69264-b-61-battery-cable-routing/#findComment-489947 Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeH Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/69264-b-61-battery-cable-routing/#findComment-489948 Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeH Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 One is longer than the other. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/69264-b-61-battery-cable-routing/#findComment-489949 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Y Posted February 21, 2022 Author Share Posted February 21, 2022 2 hours ago, Freightrain said: You'll only need one battery box with it being 12v. It will start easily with just two batteries in parallel. Keep the box on the passenger side and run the cables up under the frame and up to the starter. Go with big cables! I think mine were 4/0? (Mine has air start now so I removed all the big cables). Yeah, it does start really good the way it is. Probably helps that the negative goes right to the starter ground. I have welding cable to make longer battery cables. And it sounds like tanks are lined up too. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/69264-b-61-battery-cable-routing/#findComment-489954 Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeH Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 I flipped them around, they're both single steps. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/69264-b-61-battery-cable-routing/#findComment-489966 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechohaulic Posted February 22, 2022 Share Posted February 22, 2022 A '59 B61 was it converted to negative ground. you stated the neg goes to starter ground. positive ground was common then Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/69264-b-61-battery-cable-routing/#findComment-489990 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Y Posted February 22, 2022 Author Share Posted February 22, 2022 12 hours ago, mechohaulic said: A '59 B61 was it converted to negative ground. you stated the neg goes to starter ground. positive ground was common then Yeah, pretty sure it was converted when the S/P switch was removed. Like I said, there was a lot of things changed on the truck, the spike was disconnected when I got it and was just blowing air the maxis weren't hooked up correctly, etc. I've had it on the road about a year and have been changing mostly cosmetic things now. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/69264-b-61-battery-cable-routing/#findComment-490013 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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