Seeking grounding strap/cable advice

[dcasalena]

Planning to replace all engine and body grounds.
Any advice on using grounding strap vs. cable? Gauge?
Where's the best place to buy regarding cost?
I can buy in bulk and crimp on my own terminals if that's more cost effective, so what length to do the whole truck?

[RenoKeene]

Interested in this also.

[snj8198]

hi,

Do a search in the electrical section. I know there was a couple of informative threads going early last year. I referenced them when I was installing my new wiring harness as I too replaced all the grounds. I used the premade braided ground straps by IDIDIT (10inch i think) found at my local auto store. They were way too long so I cut them in half and just crimped on a new end on each. They worked very well and were about $5 each iirc.

Thinking out load:
bed-frame
bed-cab (not sure if necessary, i didn't)
cab-frame
firewall-motor
motor-frame
both inner fenders-frame
core support-frame (i did this because i ground all my lights and some accessories here)
battery-motor
battery-frame

Not all of this is technically correct i dont think but that's what I did. My truck is a daily driver, not a showy truck so quality of material may differ from others.

Hope this helps ya a little bud.

-steve

[68gmsee]

I bought my ground straps at local auto parts store -I think O'Reilly's. No need to go crazy with the size just as long as you can reach the place you want to ground.

The reason we use more than what they originally had was because of rust and road grime keeping the bolts from making good grounding contact.

I placed one under the back of the bed to the frame.

One under the back of cab to frame.

Rear of motor to cab.

New battery ground cable to engine and just for kicks another strap from engine to frame.

Lastly, I used one from radiator support to battery ground. The horn and regulator on the radiator support on my truck use a ground and I wanted to make sure these were covered.

[tubbedII]

I picked up a ground wire kit for a camaro off ebay for about 11 bucks. It came with 5 wires and new bolts.

[Kurt L]

dumb question not really but will all that grounding your talking bout help with less engine noise in your stereo and cb radio? i've got condensers on my alternator and one on the hot wire from cb to battery. helped out alot but still pickup noise i belive from the electric fuel pump.

[dcasalena]

I've tried my 2 local auto supply shops and neither carry ground straps or cables beyond battery to engine grounds.
Thanks for what's come across so far, but I'm looking for an online strap/cable source if there is one. Off to check out the thread referenced in #3.
Thanks guys.

[tubbedII]

A little more $ than what I remember, but here's the one on ebay I was talking about: 69 Camaro ground straps

Really though, this is just wire from place to place all around the vehicle. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. I don't see any reason you can't just use some 10 gauge wire cut to fit with the ends you need.

[70cst]

Originally Posted by dcasalena

Planning to replace all engine and body grounds.
Any advice on using grounding strap vs. cable? Gauge?
Where's the best place to buy regarding cost?
I can buy in bulk and crimp on my own terminals if that's more cost effective, so what length to do the whole truck?

Maybe this will help a little ...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?p=4502849


http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?p=1726072


http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?p=4204599

[snj8198]

Thanks 70cst, I referenced those myself when I did my wiring job.

[prostreetC-10]

For whatever it's worth, I had a ton of left over batter cables which are super thick gauge. I used it on my race car which is a subframe car. I grounded the block to the frame front and back and then grounded both frames. You do this so you have a solid circuit for your ignition and starter....etc. Remember that most motor mounts have a rubber spacer which doesn't conduct electricity too well.