The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Engine Ground Strap (58 283)

Did the early V8s have a dedicated ground strap for the engine? Looking at the FAM, I see the stock ground wire from the battery to the firewall behind it, but I don't see a strap for the engine.

Were they just grounded throught the motor mounts? I know later engines had ground straps near the starter, but I don't see that in the manual.

The PO on my truck just ran an 0 gauge cable (red, of course) from the negative terminal of the battery to one of the intake mounting bolts. That is coming off for sure.

If there wasn't a stock strap location, I am leaning toward putting one on the side motor mount bolts. I have front mounts, so the side mount holes are just sitting vacant.

Any better suggestions?

My LCF has one from the battery to the firewall, and one from low on the firewall to the engine at one of the starter bolts. Both of those are the copper braid type and appear to be original. I also added a cable from the battery to the engine.

Every time an extra connection is added, there's an increased risk of looseness, corrosion, and cranking speed problems. I've always believed in running the main battery ground cable to somewhere on the engine block, and use smaller diameter grounds from the engine to the frame, body, and bed. Things like lights, heater fan, and other accessories don't use nearly as much current as the starter. Charging system components such as a generator or alternator also ground directly to the engine. Maybe it's not "concours correct" but the only reason GM used short braided ground straps at the factory was the "baby chicken" rationale- - - - -"CHEEP- - - -CHEEP- - - -CHEEP!"
Jerry

@jerry: What do you think of using one of the side mount bolt holes for the ground?

Sounds like a good idea. 455 Buick engines used a motor mount bolt for the ground cable from the factory. I solved a "slow crank when hot" problem for one of my students whose family car had that engine by cleaning the mount with a wire brush and installing a new cable connector and bolt. That one loose, dirty connection was robbing 1 1/2 volts during cranking. The allowable voltage drop was 0.1 volt for any connection. His mother had already bought two batteries and an alternator from local shops before I got to it.
Jerry