Ground cable w/aluminum heads? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

AirMale · 09-13-2003, 03:24 PM

Can I bolt the negative cable from the battery to an aluminum head? I believe it was there before on the steel head. The ground strap behind the motor needs to go on the head as well. Any sugestions?

87 STEPPER · 09-13-2003, 03:54 PM

Yep bolt it up steel or aluminum it don't matter.

But don't leave it disconnected.

**swervin ervin** · 09-13-2003, 05:30 PM

The big ground from the battery was bolted to the alternator bracket stock. I moved it to the front of the block when I installed the chrome bracket, just for looks. The ground strap at the rear of the passenger head is still bolted to the aluminum head. Works for me.

AirMale · 09-13-2003, 05:53 PM

Hey Mike,
Just wanted to thankyou for your 73-87 site for the 100th time. I go back to it for so many things time and time again. I went with the chrome 1 wire alternator from Powermaster and while my engine was out eliminated all the useless wires. Hope to have my engine running this week.

**swervin ervin** · 09-13-2003, 10:13 PM

You are welcome. I'm glad it helps you out. I need to work on it some but I just haven't had the time.

The one wire Powermaster alternator sure does clean everything up, don't it?

79BIG10 · 09-14-2003, 12:58 AM

I also used Mike's site on the alternator. The site is like the bible for our trucks. Seems like if Mike hasn't done it then he's going to or it's time to call in the professionals (tranny rebuild, rear gear setup etc.)

1974StepSide · 03-06-2004, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by swervin ervin
The big ground from the battery was bolted to the alternator bracket stock. I moved it to the front of the block when I installed the chrome bracket, just for looks. The ground strap at the rear of the passenger head is still bolted to the aluminum head. Works for me.

Where exactly on the front of the block can I bolt the negative cable coming from the battery?

I just bought a chrome bracket and don't want to have the cable going to it...

gldevall · 03-06-2004, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by swervin ervin
The big ground from the battery was bolted to the alternator bracket stock.

As far as I know, mine has always been bolted to the frame.

MylilBowTie · 03-06-2004, 04:35 PM

Isnt there some kind of electrolysis corrosion that happens when using aluminum for a ground? I might have it backwards but I thought it was something like that.

78chevstepside · 03-06-2004, 08:46 PM

Often when i work on the motor on my 78 I climb inside the engine compartment. I would always get tangled up in the ground cable on the alternator bracket. Then I decided to move the ground cable from the battery to the frame rails. Well then for the longest time my truck wouldnt start when hot. I thought it was the headers putting heat on the starter. I put new starter/ solenoid then went to extra heavy positive battery cables. I put on a solenoid heat shield , heat sock. and still wont start when hot. One day when my truck got hot and would barely turn over I saw my engine ground( cylinderhead to the firewall) smoking. hmmmm I replaced it. and still no fix. One day I checked that ground when it got hot again and it was warm. that finally got me thinking about my ground strap from the battery. Well I decided to run another cable from the frame rail to the passenger head bolt hole. Problem solved. this problem took about 4 years to figure out.

**crossy** · 03-06-2004, 11:42 PM

there really isn't a problem with bolting it to the head ,but if you want to feel safer you can put a dab of some electrical conductor paste( radio shack or wherever) .I got some copper neverseize i use on stuff like that.
The block mount hole most people use is on the very lower right front of the block . there are two bolts there. one over top the other. the top one of the two is the one that you can use to hold your fuel pump rod in place while you are installing a fuel pump, as long as you remember to take the long bolt out and install the short one back in. this top hole will leak oil like crazy if you don't put something back in the hole.

NOTE* Remember the earlier lesson . left are right are figured sitting behind the steering wheel.

**swervin ervin** · 03-06-2004, 11:53 PM

Dave once again nailed it. Exactly where I moved mine to from the alternator bracket. I also use the hole to hold the fuel pump rod up. Small world ain't it?

As stated, the ground works best with it fastened to the engine. After all the starter is fastened to the engine. With it on the alternator, it is in contact with the engine, but one more thing to go through. On the engine is direct.

As I said in the old thread, I have my ground strap at the firewall bolted to my aluminum head. I don't have any problems at all.

09-13-2003, 03:24 PM	#1
AirMale Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Atlantic City, NJ Posts: 1,073	Ground cable w/aluminum heads? Can I bolt the negative cable from the battery to an aluminum head? I believe it was there before on the steel head. The ground strap behind the motor needs to go on the head as well. Any sugestions? __________________ 86 SWB 9.0 LITER T-400-OD 4.11 eaton-4/5 drop Best 1/4 12.51 @112mph no traction

09-13-2003, 03:54 PM	#2
87 STEPPER STILL PLAYS WITH TRUX Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Melbourne, Fla. Posts: 2,764	Yep bolt it up steel or aluminum it don't matter. But don't leave it disconnected. __________________ ~~Bruce~~ MY 87 STEPPER MY 99 2D/WD TAHOE

09-13-2003, 05:30 PM	#3
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	The big ground from the battery was bolted to the alternator bracket stock. I moved it to the front of the block when I installed the chrome bracket, just for looks. The ground strap at the rear of the passenger head is still bolted to the aluminum head. Works for me. __________________ Mike 1985 Chevy C-10

09-13-2003, 05:53 PM	#4
AirMale Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Atlantic City, NJ Posts: 1,073	Hey Mike, Just wanted to thankyou for your 73-87 site for the 100th time. I go back to it for so many things time and time again. I went with the chrome 1 wire alternator from Powermaster and while my engine was out eliminated all the useless wires. Hope to have my engine running this week. __________________ 86 SWB 9.0 LITER T-400-OD 4.11 eaton-4/5 drop Best 1/4 12.51 @112mph no traction

09-14-2003, 12:58 AM	#6
79BIG10 I'm back with 2nd truck! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 3,774	I also used Mike's site on the alternator. The site is like the bible for our trucks. Seems like if Mike hasn't done it then he's going to or it's time to call in the professionals (tranny rebuild, rear gear setup etc.) __________________ 1979 Chevrolet Bonanza Big10 "Tootsie Roll" 1985 Chevrolet Silverado (wife's) Member of the Southern Bowties Club "Don't underestimate how sexy a fat man who drinks to excess can be." Homer Simpson

09-13-2003, 10:13 PM	#5
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	You are welcome. I'm glad it helps you out. I need to work on it some but I just haven't had the time. The one wire Powermaster alternator sure does clean everything up, don't it?

03-06-2004, 04:35 PM	#9
MylilBowTie Right turn Clyde Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 2,911	Isnt there some kind of electrolysis corrosion that happens when using aluminum for a ground? I might have it backwards but I thought it was something like that. __________________ 1974 C25 LWB: 454 4bbl Carb / TH400 / 3.73 1992 Camaro RS 305 TBI

03-06-2004, 08:46 PM	#10
78chevstepside Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: lacenter, washington Posts: 718	Often when i work on the motor on my 78 I climb inside the engine compartment. I would always get tangled up in the ground cable on the alternator bracket. Then I decided to move the ground cable from the battery to the frame rails. Well then for the longest time my truck wouldnt start when hot. I thought it was the headers putting heat on the starter. I put new starter/ solenoid then went to extra heavy positive battery cables. I put on a solenoid heat shield , heat sock. and still wont start when hot. One day when my truck got hot and would barely turn over I saw my engine ground( cylinderhead to the firewall) smoking. hmmmm I replaced it. and still no fix. One day I checked that ground when it got hot again and it was warm. that finally got me thinking about my ground strap from the battery. Well I decided to run another cable from the frame rail to the passenger head bolt hole. Problem solved. this problem took about 4 years to figure out.

03-06-2004, 11:42 PM	#11
crossy Oh,you can't buy that new Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Pennsville,N.J. 08070, USA Posts: 2,039	there really isn't a problem with bolting it to the head ,but if you want to feel safer you can put a dab of some electrical conductor paste( radio shack or wherever) .I got some copper neverseize i use on stuff like that. The block mount hole most people use is on the very lower right front of the block . there are two bolts there. one over top the other. the top one of the two is the one that you can use to hold your fuel pump rod in place while you are installing a fuel pump, as long as you remember to take the long bolt out and install the short one back in. this top hole will leak oil like crazy if you don't put something back in the hole. NOTE* Remember the earlier lesson . left are right are figured sitting behind the steering wheel. __________________ "been there, done that, ruined the T-shirt". 2007 LBZ GMC Sierra, ECSB 2006 LM7 RCSB Silverado 98 Vortec project. 94,3500,6.5L 4L80 81 SWB GMC POS finally gone 73 Pinto, stock, w/CragarSS's-eww LOTS of Cummins trucks. Last edited by crossy; 03-06-2004 at 11:56 PM.

03-06-2004, 11:53 PM	#12
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	Dave once again nailed it. Exactly where I moved mine to from the alternator bracket. I also use the hole to hold the fuel pump rod up. Small world ain't it? As stated, the ground works best with it fastened to the engine. After all the starter is fastened to the engine. With it on the alternator, it is in contact with the engine, but one more thing to go through. On the engine is direct. As I said in the old thread, I have my ground strap at the firewall bolted to my aluminum head. I don't have any problems at all. __________________ Mike 1985 Chevy C-10

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