Positive to earth

[billt]

Have a 1958 Morris 1000, how can I tell if the battery connections are positive to earth .Will the car start if I connect the battery wrong?
Bill T

[Scouse]

The car will start whichever way the battery is fitted but any accessories might not like it.
In another thread, you mention the car is lowered. Therefore, I would assume it's also had a radio fitted at one stage. If so, then it's 99% likely to have been converted to -ve earth (+ve earth radios are rare).
Also, if it has an alternator, it will be -ve earth.

In theory, you should be able to tell by the coil connections but that's not a definite as the coil will work either way round.

[Tadhg]

I found that (coil will work earthed the opposite way to the battery) out recently... Installed one of the cheap Electronic Ignition kits from eBay into my Mini, and fried it... It'd been converted to -ve earth, but the coil was still +ve earth. Points work both ways, electronic ignition doesn't. Once I fixed the earth arrangement (swapped the coil's polarity), and installed a replacement module, it worked. For about $50, not bad...

[Hoary Morrie]

I thought you could also use the theory put the bigger battery terminal on the larger terminal, and the smaller on on the other.

[billt]

Thanks for your help. It does have a radio,temp guage.ampmeter and tacho none of which work. Maybe if I connect the battery leads negative to earth they may work. The car is at Dads place so wont be able to try until weekend.
Thanks again BillT.

[Scouse]

If it has accessories like you've described, it'll be -ve earth.

[frosty]