battery cable ground location

S

steve fritz

Well-known member
On a 56 Ford with V8 , where does the neg battery cable ground to? I could run the ground cable to the front exhaust manifold bolt for a good ground, but where would it have been grounded originally? The dip stick housing has a mounting bolt on the front of that cyl head , but it is only a 5/16 bolt size , so might be a little small for the battery cable end.
Can't seem to find the battery cables in my 49/59 Ford text book.
Thanks for checking!
Steve
 
The MPC ILL shows it mounts @ the front of the engine block @ the GEN. It is not an exact ILL but gives you an idea. You do not want to mount it anywhere but the exact location as the entire electrical system is grounded at that point and if you have a poor GRD, all kind of things can begin to happen.

Someone here has to have an original install to show a photo.
 

Attachments

  • BAT GRD - 56 FORD.JPG
    BAT GRD - 56 FORD.JPG
    47.2 KB · Views: 22
Thanks for the reply....Looks like it may share the generator bracket to engine block (head) bolt????
Can somebody just take a look at one of your 55/56 Fords and let me know for sure. I am holding off buying a neg battery cable untill I can determine the correct length to reach to the right ground spot.
Appreciate your help,
Steve
 
Since the starter draws more current that anything else in the car, the usual goal is to find a large direct Ground connection for the starter that doesn't interfere with something else.

In the 'For Whatever It's Worth' department there may be an empty bolt hole in the right front corner of the head just below the head bolt and behind the generator. (photo attached)
The threads look to be 7/16 'coarse' and you wouldn't want the bolt to be any longer than 3/4", to not interfere with the head bolt.
If the one in this photo were to be used the paint should be thoroughly cleaned off where the cable lug attaches, and the lug would need to be sufficiently clear of the yellow Generator output cable.

The passenger side head in your '56 may or may not have have this hole.
This photo is looking up under the front corner of a '58 head.
 

Attachments

  • bolt hole c.jpg
    bolt hole c.jpg
    48.1 KB · Views: 17
Last edited:
That's it.

Cataloging calls for a 30" L cable.

The cap screw is 7/16" - 14 x 3/4" plus lock washer.
 
The factory ground cable-to-engine bolt location on both Y-blocks I've had is at the bolt that secures the dipstick tube to the head. On my '55 sedan (which had the original 6-volt Power Punch battery with the blue caps) when I got it, the ground cable end terminal was inserted behind the dipstick tube mounting clip such that the terminal was sandwiched between the clip and the head. That needs to be real clean though. I used pipe cleaners dipped in gasoline to rake out any oil or grease that might have been hidden behind the clip.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top