Home Automation - Kitchen Range Wiring

I have a 50+ year old house. The original cable to the 220 volt kitchen range is a two conductor (One black, one red) cable, 4 or 6 ga., surrounded by a stranded wire shield and then covered with a heavy cloth insulation. The wire shield was gathered, twisted together and terminated at the range end and I assume this was the neutral connection. A 40 amp Circuit Breaker feeds this cable. The cable is too short to reach the receptacle for a new range being installed so I plan to add a junction box in the attic area above and to connect an 8 ga., three conductor (with ground) cable from there to the new range receptacle. I am using split bolts to connect the wires in the junction box with rubber splicing tape and a vinyl tape overwrap to insulate them. The range uses a 3 pole, 3 wire, non-grounded plug, so I believe terminating this cable at the receptacle using the proper color sequence should finish it. I will use the ground wire to ground the terminal boxes only. Will this arrangement meet NEC requirements ? Does it sound safe ? And finally what is the color code for 220 volt connections such as this ?

hello Richard,
what u have there is probily #6 se cabel and ill bet its alumium wire being that its on a 40 amp breaker. u said u plained on installing a j box in attic and useing 8-3 with ground useing the bare to ground between the boxes. this will not ground the boxes since it does not go to the panel. now u also asked if this would meet the code. this all depends on what year code your area is useing. a 3 wire range will meet the 93 and 96 code but in 99 the code was chainged to require a 4 wire. in my area we r allowed to repair 3 wire range and dryer but any new construction we must install a 4 wire. u need to check with your local building inspection department to c what they require.
what we would do here is install the j box in attic install a new piece of se cabel and wire it back in.

That is interesting, the NEC requiring a 4 wire connection, as I just purchased the range. I don't have the range yet so I called the store and they gave me the data on the plug (3 prong. 3 wire, non-grounded). Is it possible they would still be selling an appliance that is no longer NEC compliant ? Or am I just mis-understanding the relationship between the plug and the wiring to the receptacle ?

The original cable has two conductors that consist of 7 strand wire and they are copper. The shield wire is possible 30 strand and may be aluminum (it is silver colored on the outside of the individual strands - maybe a coating ?) but I didn't think they used aluminum 50 years ago and this was definitely the original wiring installed when the house was built. Is this cable safe or should it definitely be replaced ?

hello richard,
yes it is verry possabel for a new range to be a 3 prong plug. since u know the range is 3 prong id wire it accordinly. if your old wire is in good condition you shuld be fine useing it. if u determin its in good condition and r going to use it install your j box and add a piece of 8-2 with ground hook the black and white to the covered wire and bare to bare. useing wirenuts it will eather take blue or gray nuts.

Done. Thanks for the help Sprky !