Ground Wire

Tom F OHIO

Tom F OHIO

Well-known member
I have a 52 v8 and would like to add a ground wire. Where would the best place be to do this. Thanks....
 
on the advice from some of the members on this forum and elsewhere, i've recently replaced all the wires on my 6v positive grounded '41 involving starting and grounding with 00 copper wires. battery to frame, battery to solenoid, motor to frame, and even solenoid to starter.

i bought them on ebay. they were all custom ordered, by length, color, and terminal type. i thought the prices to be very reasonable and have been completely satisfied with the results.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/196129030249?var=495983200321
 
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I would say between the firewall and the engine block for an additional ground, make sure your battery ground goes to the block also. I spray the flat ground straps with Fluid Film after they are installed as they may corrode when dirt and moisture get on them. Look for heavy cables from the surplus aircraft industry.
 
Two major grounds are needed. One with a good size battery cable from the battery to a starter, since the starter takes the most current. The engine is mounted with rubber mounts so then another smaller cable is needed from the engine to the firewall, that ground carries the voltage for all of the lights and other stuff on the car. All cars have those two basic grounds. Each component has its own separate ground which then runs through the sheet metal back to the firewall cable to the engine block and then back to the battery.
 
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So somewhere I should have a ground wire from the engine block to the firewall. I do have a heavy cable going from the battery to the engine block. If I can't find the other can I go from the starter somewhere to the firewall. Thank Tom...
 
the idea is to make, electrically speaking, a single unit of the block, transmission, frame, body panels and ground post on your battery. essentially enhancing the post's accessibility for the sake of wiring convenience.

otherwise every circuit in the car, the lights, the instruments, the oil pressure sensor, the fuel level sensor, the temperature sensor, the turn signals, the distributor, the radio, etc., etc., would have to run its own return wire all the way back to the post on the battery, what a mess that would be!
 
Is 00 wire the same as 2.0 gauge wire? Would the wire with the two round connectors on each end from Dennis Carpenter be ok to use as an extra ground wire??
 
Flathead Fever said:
Two major grounds are needed. One with a good size battery cable from the battery to a starter, since the starter takes the most current. The engine is mounted with rubber mounts so then another smaller cable is needed from the engine to the firewall, that ground carries the voltage for all of the lights and other stuff on the car. All cars have those two basic grounds. Each component has its own separate ground which then runs through the sheet metal back to the firewall cable to the engine block and then back to the battery.
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Flathead. From the positive side of the battery, I have a cable going to the front of the motor. If I also go from the starter to the frame, will I be ok that way. Can you tell me if I'm doing it wrong. The reason I am trying to get the grounds correct is because when I have my turn signals on that I installed and then turn on the lights the turn signals stop working. Thanks. Tom...
 
The mantra for grounds is clean,tight and bright. Make sure you are getting metal to metal contact. My ‘41 has a ground strap from the firewall to the engine block and another from the block to frame, not sure what is factory but I have no issues with this setup.

I also owned a 1950 sedan that the right side front directional didn’t work, I added a ground wire from the chrome housing to the frame to fix the problem.
 
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