The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Task Force Batt Ground location

It's been since 2013 that my 1958 Apache was driven. I'm finally getting the engine back in and hooking everything up. Where do ya'll have the battery ground running to? I think I use to have it grounded next to the Ign Coil, but I sealed those bolts to keep oil from leaking out.

My 56 has a cable from the neg side of the battery to a captured nut on the lower right side of the firewall. From that connection it has another cable to a bell housing mount bolt. I believe that to be similar to the factory connections. Use star washers at the connection points. Grounds do not work well with new paint.
Fred

There should be a threaded ground boss on the firewall just above the battery tray shelf. That's where the battery ground goes. Then below that, where Fred says, is another threaded ground boss. A braided cable goes from there to a starter bolt. They always use a starter bolt for motor ground because it's near main positive cable input at starter stud. A braided cable from one of those places to the frame is also necessary. None of this is cast in concrete (just in the FAM), but battery neg-motor-body-frame must have continuity.

Unless you're building a rig to compete in concours-type car shows, run a #0 or larger cable from the battery negative post to one of the bellhousing or starter attaching bolts, and use smaller-diameter ground leads to the body and frame from the engine. A ground wire from the bed to the frame is another important one if you want tail lights and turn signals to work right.
Jerry