Last night I was asked about the ground from the negative battery cable to the body...
I know on my 73 the negative cable has an extra wire that goes to the fender wall as well as connecting to the block.
but...
On my 78 I don't have this extra ground and it only goes to the block.
However...
I do know the previous owner changed the original cable and am curious if it's needed, recommended or not required for the newer electronic ignition ???
Thoughts anyone?
hey cookieboy on my 77wagon the factory ground wire had a connector in the middle of it then bolted to the fender. replaced with a new one that goes straight to the engine block when it broke up.it works fine without the exrta ground. ;D chris
Yes! Absolutely !!
Add a ground strap if it does not have already.
The 78 should have a braded strap between the firewall and the block!
From Pintony
Thanks Chris... that's what I was thinking... factory had one so it "should" be there. BTW... Mine seems to run fine without it but I think I will add the strap as Tony suggested. On the 73 I have the one on the battery cable to firewall as well as a braided one like Tony suggested from the block to the firewall as well. With the 73 I had all kinds of issues with grounds during the restore and found it helped solve a few gremlins. I just wasn't sure if the newer cars and electronic ignition did it differently than the 73 with points...
Most auto's I have seen have heavy grond off battery to block and small braided cable from rear of engine to firewall and I have seen alot of them since I haft to work on them everyday. :cheesy_p:
The old cars had the reculator on the coresupport and the alt. on the block if you do not have a GOOD ground the regulator has to do its job through the transmission mount or find its way to the block somehow.
MOST late cars have the reg. built into the alt.
From Pintony
cookie boy what about in the middle of the ground cable cutting a small section of plastic off and putting a metal clip or bracket and mounting it on the fender where the factory bracket on the cable went?very cheap and looks like a fac part. ;D also before i go i hate to say this but :D it going to be 75 here this weekend and = shorts,ac time wash car no snow in sunny ca. :fastcar: chris
Quote from: chrisf1219 on April 03, 2008, 10:32:55 AM
cookie boy what about in the middle of the ground cable cutting a small section of plastic off and putting a metal clip or bracket and mounting it on the fender where the factory bracket on the cable went?
Chris... I wouldn't cut the cable as you suggest... not a good idea. I know braided grounding straps are not that expensive and it's easy to find a spot on engine and body to connect. I added an extra ground this way to my 73... just because. Also you can get a new ground cable for around $10.00 from any auto parts store and just replace what you have with a cable that has the grounding wire attached.
My ground cable looks new so I will not go that route and I have an extra braided cable, even know where it's at, so I will do that instead.
i didnt want to cut the cable just the outer layer of plastic arond the cable and clap on a bracket thats all . all kidding aside ido wish it was warm for you too its alot more fun to work and play with your car. ;)chris
Quote from: chrisf1219 on April 03, 2008, 11:42:09 AM
i didnt want to cut the cable just the outer layer of plastic arond the cable and clap on a bracket thats all
and... this is the part I don't like or would recommend. No cut plastic. just my opinion.
That ground is there to ground the body and everything that uses a body ground can be affected if it is gone. A lot of times people would come in and say thier gauges would go haywire when they used the heater, wipers ect. First thing I would look for is a new ground cable w/o the factory lug on the body.