If you don't need to be exactly original, it would be more efficient to go directly from the neg. terminal to a bolt near the starter, then to the firewall location, less opportunity for voltage drop that way. Cu is a better conductor than Fe.
Ed
Ed, you are right about the copper having better conductivity than steel. This truck I bought is so original it will pain me just to use parts that aren't labeled Delco. But of course I will have to.
I am new to this forum, but not new working on vehicles. I have been working on light and medium duty trucks since 1971. Yes I'm that old. The braided ground was engineered for a second reason. Since the battery case is plastic or Bakelite it insulates the conductors from current and
heat. The braided ground was designed for heat dissipation. Hooked to the negative stud, heat then could move through internal lead and be cooled by the cable.
Of course we know engineers are not always correct.
