Just trying to clean up a few items on my car back to original. I must admit I haven't really taken much notice of the battery cable routing in the past.

I have only recently noticed that my battery cable doesn't run up over the subframe like my clubby did. It is P clipped underneath at a sharp angle.

It may have been replaced in the past and it was too hard for the previous owner to re-route over the subframe in situ.

What is the correct way they routed the battery cable on a 68/69 Cooper S?

If it is supposed to go between the body and frame, and can this be done in situ or will I need to pull the subframe?

This is what it looks like.


This is what it may need to look like.

Did mine recently on a deluxe. It is routed behind the subframe which I'm guessing is correct. Can be done with the subframe insitu. This way the subframe can be removed without removing the cable.

Thanks for that. Hopefully it won't be to hard to feed up between the frame and body.

I was thinking of cutting off the battery terminal clamp anyway because I have to stick the lead back into the correct hole in the floor.

Someone made an extra hole for the battery lead through the floor. Then I can weld up the extra hole. Its been annoying me for ages.

What about a gromit. You won't have to remove the tanks then.

I will see how motivated I get - probably stick a grommet in until I have to do some major work to it.

Its just one of those little things that annoys me. I have a list of a at least a dozen things that still need changing back to original.

What works for me is a blackboad in the shed. List everything that needs doing then rub out when completed. Just do one at a time and you'll get there.

The photo of your battery cable route is the same as my K and S. Does not go behind subframe like hydro and brake lines, but loops under it with that P clip, disappears into skid plate exactly the same as yours.
That should be 1 less thing to "change".
Bill

It just looks so dodgy.

Would also need to pull the cable out from the front of the car or cut off the battery clamp off when the rear subframe comes out.

Are there any legal impediments to running the battery cable from the boot inside the car on a roadie? I'm putting a kill switch on the floor cross beam between the driver's seat and the door.

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Slide
1965 Mini Van (1360)
1970 Mk2 Cooper S (1310)
1978 Rover SD1 V8 (4.6)
1996 Land Rover Discovery V8 (4.0)

Yes, looks amateurish. Maybe your cable could have a little more slack in it to get a better curve.
The original battery clamp on (+) terminal was sweated on and couldn't be pulled through hole, but it was made of lead and gradually lost shape. I have removed the lead clamp and soldered the wire strands together and use a brass terminal that has a pinch bolt to attach to the cable so that the cable can be pulled out through the hole in the floor if necessary. Am just about to do this job on my 'project'.
Bill

I have a feeling that the PO drilled the extra hole for the pos lead because it was cut back and would not reach going through the normal hole. Might be up for another longer cable.

Were the original clamps at 90 degrees to the lead like mine or did they run straight into the back like a normal clamp?

You will find that the Battery cable gets routed under the Sub Frame most times because it has been shortened. people do that to gain some length. Not a very good practice like you see because of so many sharp edges. Usually when I get a Mini with the battery cable that has become too short I terminate the cable with a soldered lug on a Proper Battery cable post which I mount on the side of the Sub Frame and then have another short cable from there to the Battery terminal. This makes it easy to replace the cable again if it ever gets short again.
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=Narv ... votixqM%3A

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I'm pretty sure on an early car it goes under the subframe, the tabs on Susanna the '62 seem to suit it
The white car above also seems to have tabs for it, although that car is hydro.
Unless I've got it wrong on her?

This is how it's routed on my MK II S.

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

Thanks Doug. Looks exactly the same as mine. Can i trouble you for a photo of the battery cable clamps?