coolest ground strap, check this out!

[sigshooter]

I found these while working at the scrap yard, they were off around a 1999 ford explorer. They were right behind the right front wheel going from the frame to the body.

They are super easy to get on ( and off when you find some for yourself ) require no drilling, just tap them on with a hammer. They have little spikes inside the clips that dig in to bare metal to make the connection.

I put them on my truck tonight ( one from the rear of the frame to the rear bed cross member and the other from the frame to the bottom of the cab ) and I swear the lights and signals were brighter. My truck has the battery ground going to the motor mount and then just the lil wire from the cable to the rad support screwed in behind the battery. I also installed a ground strap from my valve cover to the cab firewall ( I have seen these on 66's so I think the factory started this around then ).

I know grounding issues were a huge problem for these trucks ( melting the dimmer switch and signals and brake lights not working all the time. I think this will solve alot of problems for us.

For those junk yarders look on 99 ish Explorers ( I looked on tons of other fords and didn't find them on anything else. If I can come up with a Ford part number ( if they are available thru the dealer ) I will post it for those that dont enjoy crawling around in junk yards.

I hope this helps other members out, I know it helped my truck and it was sooo easy.

[piratexpress1369a]

that is cool .great idea

[Ta2Don]

Thanks for the heads up

[chevyrestoguy]

Sig, you have addressed one of the things that 75% of the guys out there building vehicles always overlook. In a 12V DC system, the ground is everything. How many times have you heard, " My car is always draining the battery", or "My headlights are really dim". You look the car over, and there's no grounds anywhere.

You MUST ground the engine, cab, and chassis!! It makes a huge difference.

[sigshooter]

Originally Posted by chevyrestoguy

Sig, you have addressed one of the things that 75% of the guys out there building vehicles always overlook. In a 12V DC system, the ground is everything. How many times have you heard, " My car is always draining the battery", or "My headlights are really dim". You look the car over, and there's no grounds anywhere.

You MUST ground the engine, cab, and chassis!! It makes a huge difference.

I know it made all kinds of difference in mine. The lights are brighter, the amp meter is more stable ( doesn't bounce around as much ) wipers run faster, seems to just run better.... can't explain it all but worlds of difference.

It was sooooo easy with these ground straps

[dougf]

Wow, great info guys. I'm going to go out and ground the hell out of my truck now

[clemdaddy]

if you build frame-up and paint everything you have to provide even more grounds to the frame. everything to the frame. on my truck i used tons of star washers and scraped paint on both sides, lots of work. those straps of yours would have saved time and done the job.

let us know if you find them in the aftermarket...

[MikeS.]

HAM and CB guys like me use these especially when we run some wattage. We get a much better signal and power transfer.

You might check HAM suppliers for these straps.
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[bbadfred]

When I bought my LQ9 for my 67 shortbed I got three ground wires Battery,body.frame with the Engine. I bolted them up with star washers and I have had no problems with anything electrical old or new on the truck.

[61_FL_Apache]

You cant have too many grounds!!

[sigshooter]

went to the scrap yard and found the straps on 95 and 96 explorers only.... I have ordered one thru ford and will post the part number if it is correct

[Billett]

Over on the s10 forum we call them the big three. First thing I did when I got that truck. Not sure about forum rules, but if it's ok I'll post a link to that thread so you guys can check it out. The pics are using late model s10s but the concept is exactly the same.

Mods, if this is a problem please remove it as you see fit.

www.s10forum.com/big-three-big-3-upgrade-how-to