Hi,

Bet that was a nice surprise!

I want to say you have the positive cable touching a solenoid terminal at the same time.
The solenoid terminals are very near the top of the solenoid just like the big cable.

You would think not … but a newer terminal on that new battery cable probably sticks out a little farther or is little bit bigger around in some way.
Maybe the terminal it’s even needs a bending or wire direction change while leaning lower over onto the solenoid.
The positive solenoid engaging wire has a small flat spade and it needs to have its own insulated cover too.
Yours might be gone due to brittleness.

I hope you bought cables as long or longer as short sucks, especially, if you have to spin the battery posts.
Exide bought out their better “lead formulation/completion (Johnston Controls) and the industry is evaluating the overall automotive and batteries for tools scene.
Lead acids are in for Shorter life spans and their warranties are now showing up on the playgrounds people. Costco gave me a heads up three plus years ago.

Bye the way, always remember the negative cable is half the cars system in one connection.
Don’t let it corrode and it will be your best friend.
Example, Remember to remove the minus sign or negative wire first from a battery.
Put it back on as a last thing!
Tuck it down and away so bouncing back up on top of the battery when moving other things around.
Make it where you have to intentionally put back on, as it keeps all things considered, safer!

Do it first this way and there is no need to take the positive cable loose unless you are removing the whole battery.
This way no wrench ends will ever spark by accident, when you are wrenching on any positive side connections elsewhere on the car.

You also would not have had to remove the smaller red wire from the terminal block on the fender.
It’s also easy to forget to put it back on as it can hide under wiring harnesses.
It’s crowded depending on optional fog lamps, the injector fuse holder and brackets on the fender.
Not a nice deal if it gets to touching something hidden that’s out of sight.
The starter was your good example.

Phil