Battery terminals melting, HELP PLEASE

[mt Al]

I bought a '72 suburban a few weeks ago and, no surprise, it has serious electrical problems.

I put in a battery a week ago and it went dead after a few days. I noticed that the positive terminal had actually melted partially and that the wire covering was partially melted.

Put in a new battery last night and noticed sparks coming from the positive terminal and smoke from the negative when I turned it over, quickly unhooked the battery and made an appointment with "the shop".

This morning I hooked it up again, it barely turned over and the negative terminal partially melted and the wire actually came out of the lead clamp!!

The grounding wire appeared OK, its hooked up to the AC clamp that is bolted to the intake manifold (now an Edlebrock Performer RPM).

Any suggestions? I just want to get it to the shop without having to tow it.

Thanks very much

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'72 GMC 1/2T 4x4 pickup and
'72 GMC 3/4T 4x4 suburban.
(current)
past rides were: '70 Chev 2wd farm truck
'71 GMC 2wd 1/2T 402 nice!
'72 Chev 2wd 1/2T 396