I know this is a long shot, but does anyone know of a source for the rubber isolator used on the battery cables near the starter?

There is a bracket that bolts to the engine/trans using the long starter bolt where these are used. They wrap around the cables and cushion/isolate the cables. The ones on the new 1979 are like goo and disintegrated.

One idea that I had was to just use some rubber hose and secure it in place with heat shrink if I can get the heat shrink over the cable end that attaches to the starter. If the heat shrink is a no-go, then electrical table over the rubber hose is my only option.

 

I like to use these insulated wire clamps for stuff like that. You can get them online, or big box stores, or even harbor freight. They come in lots of different size ranges. You can also put a second piece of split rubber fuel or vacuum hose around whatever you are clamping, before you apply the rubber insulated clamp if you want a second layer of vibration protection. I created a setup using these to secure some oil cooler lines from bouncing around/rubbing on sheet metal.

Maybe I'm off base here, but that is what I would probably try first. Should look fairly OEM if done right.

 

better off finding purely nylon, that rubber isn't oil or gas friendly and might wind up being bare metal holding the battery cable in place. or better yet one of the zip tie clamps that has a push in retainer, or something like this to keep it more OEM:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-pcs-push-...5Tvs23&vxp=mtr

 

Here is what I'm talking about. The second pic is an example of the isloator.

 

I would browse this website: https://www.mcmaster.com/

I buy a lot of things from them for some of the Porsche restorations that I do and I've found they have nearly everything!!

 

I was hoping I could find a catalog of them since I know I have seen one before, but I can't find it right now. However, I did find the following items:

Jeep WW2 ****** MB A1395 Generator Mounting Rubber Insulators Set G503 GPW Ford | eBay

RUBBER INSULATOR BRAKE PIPE & SPEED0 CBL, RNC672, 6860L - Rovers North - Classic Land Rover Parts

Maybe you could look into those and see how far off the sizes would be? Maybe the seller on eBay has a vendor they get them from that they could put you in touch with to get the right size?

I just looked through the parts catalogs I have for both 81-83 and 84-85, but I didn't see those in there. Weird, since I'm fairly sure they should be...

~T.J.

 

Thx - Nice to know there is something out there that would work. Wish they listed the diameter.

 

Could you machine your own using a relatively hard durometer rubber stock? This is a ridiculous amount of sheet stock, 1" thick, but it gets the idea across.

https://www.grainger.com/product/MJ-MAY-Rubber-Strip-48YN47?breadcrumbCatId=16277&s_pp=false&picUrl=//static.grainger.com/rp/s/is/image/Grainger/48YL38_AS01?$smthumb$

Maybe a more cost effective piece at ~$26. There are prob some other choices too.

https://www.grainger.com/product/E-JAMES-Rubber-Strip-WP165782/_/N-ay4Z1z0ccu3Z1yz887r?breadcrumbCatId=16277&s_pp=fal se&picUrl=//static.grainger.com/rp/s/is/image/Grainger/1TVU5_AS01?$smthumb$#nav=%2Fproduct%2FE-JAMES-Rubber-Strip-WP165782%2F_%2FN-c1zZ1z0ccu3Z1yz887rZ1yz887p%3FR%3D1DXA4%26_%3D1490 120908772%26breadcrumbCatId%3D16277%26picUrl%3D%25 2F%252Fstatic.grainger.com%252Frp%252Fs%252Fis%252 Fimage%252FGrainger%252F1TVU5_AS01%253F%2524smthum b%2524%26s_pp%3Dfalse

Also both of the above are 70A durometer, and that shows reasonable machineable acc'd to this chart:

 

+! I get them with a stainless band and EPDM cushion. I have them in every size from 1/4" up to 1". Full compatibility with automotive fluids. This is an example: https://www.mcmaster.com/#3225t23/=16usiw3