my Z's battery is dead... I have a Walmart battery with part number 56-5 here from my old car... is there any reason this shouldn't work?

 

Yes, if that battery is also dead, it will not work.............You should be ok with that battery....all cars have a specific size category for the battery though, you can call any auto parts store and ask them what size your Z takes, if it is the same as the Wal Mart battery you have well there you go.

 

I just contacted Advance Auto Parts and they said that the factory "Group" size for my 1982 280ZX is 27, however the following "Group" sizes will also fit:

27
26
25
24
and the Optima yellow top: group size 35-78

They said the "Group" size is the physical size of the battery.

 

cool, thanks thxone I just dropped the 56 in there, and it seems to fit ok... a 'lil tight reach for the negative cable. But I think my terminal quick-disconnect might make up the room.

Where is the "far" end of the main ground cable supposed to attach? I found it dangling around back near the starter... I'm thinking of attaching it where the small ground wire hooks onto the injectorcooler's bracket, and removing the splice connection underneath my totally rusted battery shelf. With that much rust, I don't think its transfering much current.

oh wow, I thought I was imagining things at first when I saw your back wheels spinning there, haha. nice pic

 

I am not sure where the other end of the ground cable goes....to the body I think...I could be wrong though. It took me about 30 minutes to make that animated gif of the tire spinning.

 

the neg cable goes from the batt to the body then to a starter mount bolt on my N/A. Thats the best bet to minimize electrical hiccups in the car.

 

ah, top starter bolt... thats abotu where it looked like it should be. I bet I'm going to have to completely unmount the starter to get it under that bolt too.

 

well not completely unmount the starter, just that top bolt, the starter stays in the car. then just slip the wire on and re-tighten

 

that batt box wire is your body ground. you might want to hook it to somewhere on the motor. Factory specs: neggitive from batt to batt box, then the batt box to starter. it cover's both the body ground. and engine ground at same time. If you want. you can take that batt box wire off, but you will still want to have a engine to body ground. cause you want radio and stuff right? I have seen ppl run the neggy cable to top trany bolt. works there too. just fun to get to when time to change. if you want to get creative, and hide the grounds, first: you can weld, drill and tap, or find a existing hold behind the battery to mount the cable from battery. then down on trans mount. runa a 1 foot cable from it's mount to body. and there you have it. neggy's all hidden, and everythign still grounded.