76 stepside 4x4 electrical

[hidalgo]

hey everyone-
    curious about optima batteries and which to go with if/when i install a winch on my truck.  i have a 1976 chevy stepside 4x4 with a rebuilt 454 engine in it. how many cranking amps do i want out of a battery? also, i would like to update the alternator too, so how many amps is enough for all around use? is a 140 amp alternator enough and is there a particular brand that anyone favors or recommends? my battery cables seem reversed-it looks as though whoever rebuilt and redid electrical has the red cable on black/negative terminal and black cable on red/positive terminal. is this a big deal?  should positive be hooked to starter and metal part of frame?  thanks for any and all help!!

[1979C20]

That wiring doesnt sound right. Whichever wire comes off of the positive terminal.on the battery goes directly to the starter, and a wire comes off the distibution block on the firewall and goes to the same spot on the starter, to feed power to the rest of thr truck. And whichever wire comes off the negative should attach at the rad support, frame, and alternator bracket. Then on the back of the engine a flat braided wire goes from the back of the engine to the cab to.ground the body. And id go with optima red top. The yellow top is deep cycle and for offroad vehicle use, and RVs, and its better with vibration. The blue top is for marine use. And the red top is for trucks SUVs, cars, etc.

[bake74]

     Yes, you should switch the battery cables around.  Not that you would get it wrong, but someone jumping off your truck or working on your truck might not look and assume and hook up the battery wrong and there goes your electrical system.
     Only use the yellow top optima if you are living in an area where you need a lot of cold cranking as to freezing for several days below zero.  The 140 amp alternator should be fine for what you described.