I have a 1982 Ford F250 2wd. 302 auto. When looking up replacement cables at local parts store they mention dual battery systems. While I only have a single battery 1 cable runs from the negative battery post and the sleeve is cut and a metal clamp sleeve is smashed down on it and attached to the wheel well the runs to the engine block. Is this neccesary or can it be ran right to the engine. I also have 1 cable running from the starter relay down the frame heading towards the back of the truck I have not tracked it down to find the final destination. 1 cable go ing from the starter realy to the starter and the positive cable runs to the same side of the starter relay. My main concern is the negative cable with cut sleeve. I just verbally diagramed the wire routing for complete analysis.

 

The metal sleeve is to help ground the body. When you replace the cable, just run it straight to the engine block, and run a 2nd cable between the engine block and the frame.

I have two wires from the - battery terminal, one goes to the frame, another to the engine, and then I have a third wire between my engine and frame. That way, if any of the three break or corrode, I'll still be grounded

 

The cable with the cut sleeve as you put it, is how it came from the factory.

The same negative ground cable grounds the frame, and grounds to the engine and or starter depending on engine.

You can either remove the metal clamp from the old cable, and transfere it to the new aftermarket cable, or install two cables as described above.

The positive battery cable to the starter solenoid is still avaliable from Ford. Single battery: D1PZ-14300-D / Motorcraft Number: 7134.

Don't forget there is also a engine to firewall ground cable. This cable or wire tends to go missing, and causes problems with the cab grounds...

 

I 2nd that. The cab is mounted in rubber body mounts, so the only way it gets grounded is through a wire screwed right to the cab sheetmetal, and then to the engine block. I have also seen trucks have an additional cab ground under the passenger side front of the cab near the front cab mount. It clips onto the floorboard and then is screwed into the frame.

 

If your neg cable is just bad at the battery and you want to save $ you can cut the cable at the frame leaving it attached from frame to block, then put the new cable from bat- to the block or frame. (I think the block is preffered)