Grounding straps - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

my70chevyc10 · 08-27-2007, 04:11 PM

I posted a thread on here about my dash and head lights flickering and the good people said it was a grounding strap that was loose. Well i dont think i have any grounding straps so if anyone has some pics of them and where they go that would help or pics of where they are on your truck. How many am i sopose to have on my truck i think i found one on the passanger side it looks like someone cut it. It was conected to the cab and the frame if this is one let me know.

Luvlegs · 08-27-2007, 05:00 PM

Sounds like it. I also have one that goes to an inner fender and the frame. I think there is one that goes from the firewall to a valve cover bolt also.
If I am not mistaken, cdowns also posted that there was a ground from the frame to the bed. I replied asking anyone for pics or location of one but didn't see any response.

lilred67 · 08-27-2007, 05:22 PM

i added another one from the neg.battery post to the core support.
there should be 2 from the valve cover bolts to the fire wall.
the wood floor beds could really use one from frame to bed, i have had problems with a couple of these trucks to where the rear lights didn't work and it was a grounding problem.added a ground wire and fixed it.

*72lb4x4* · 08-27-2007, 05:30 PM

Also on the cab by the (I think) front cab supports.
I'd say the bed has to have at least one...
This info is in the assembly manual, but since there's no table of contents or index, info is tough to find.

blukangoo · 08-27-2007, 05:45 PM

I made sure that these parts had grounding straps on them.

1. Engine to Firewall
2. Frame to the back of the Bed
3. Battery negative to the Fender
4. Cab to frame
5. Because of the modifications to the electrical system I had to run a groundwire to the Radiator Assembly.
My Headlights wouldn´t work without it even though the lights have thier own Negative.

EAST SIDE LOW LIFE · 08-30-2007, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luvlegs

Sounds like it. I also have one that goes to an inner fender and the frame. I think there is one that goes from the firewall to a valve cover bolt also.
If I am not mistaken, cdowns also posted that there was a ground from the frame to the bed. I replied asking anyone for pics or location of one but didn't see any response.

**********************************************************

Here's your picture.

esll.

Luvlegs · 08-30-2007, 09:01 AM

WOW - is that factory (size, connection, location)???? It looks like the battery ground cable! Thanks for the pic.

EAST SIDE LOW LIFE · 08-31-2007, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luvlegs

WOW - is that factory (size, connection, location)???? It looks like the battery ground cable! Thanks for the pic.

**********************************************************

Your right it is a battery cable .... I'm not restoring my truck, I wanted it to function properly (I like brake lights.) The location is correct as far as I can tell as I found the original strap end still connected to the frame. Why guys cut these off to save 5 minutes to remove a bed or what ever is beyond me.The ground strap size for this is not a tiny strap from the factory either judging from the end that I found (not as big as what I used but I have a good ground and my lights all work.) 10 or 12 gauge wire with crimped on ends doesn't cut it either, better to have more then less in this case. If this truck was a resto. I would buy a factory ground strap and install it. All other locations on my truck have the factory ground straps and that is why I trust the location where I found the ground strap end on the frame to be the correct factory location. I like you posted this question and never received one reply. So this is what my research has come up with and it works. I hope this is a help to you.

esll.

Longhorn Man · 08-31-2007, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blukangoo

My Headlights wouldn´t work without it even though the lights have thier own Negative.

The neg in the harness goes to the core support. I would ground the battery to the core suppoer instead of the fender personally

71MUTT · 08-31-2007, 04:16 PM

I've got every factory ground still hooked up on my truck and still had to ground the tail light housings directly to the frame.
I wonder if all that beautiful rust has anything to do with it.

71MUTT · 08-31-2007, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

The neg in the harness goes to the core support. I would ground the battery to the core suppoer instead of the fender personally

I wonder why they didn't do something like this out of the factory.
It seems like a good idea.

MXmaniac · 08-31-2007, 06:14 PM

I added some ground straps from the frame to the bed, and some other places. It really brightened up my tail and brake lights. Be sure to clean the spot where you are going to put the strap with some sand paper or one of those bits for your drill. That alone makes a big difference.

Shyguy · 08-31-2007, 08:37 PM

Everything works on my '71 C-10, but since I have been reading about grounding straps I better check my truck over. I know for sure that there are not any between the engine and the fire-wall.

I know on old F* tractors I run a ground strap to one of the mounting bolts for the starter and it makes them start better.

Danny - Southeast Missouri

blukangoo · 08-31-2007, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

The neg in the harness goes to the core support. I would ground the battery to the core suppoer instead of the fender personally

The headlights work fine but I had to modify the parking lights for the germans.
I will put 2 pictures up. The first shows the parking lights on. They have to be white in Germany. The second with the normal headlights. After the inspection all I have to do is change connectors and the Ambers will work again.

08-27-2007, 04:11 PM	#1
my70chevyc10 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Covina Calif Posts: 172	Grounding straps I posted a thread on here about my dash and head lights flickering and the good people said it was a grounding strap that was loose. Well i dont think i have any grounding straps so if anyone has some pics of them and where they go that would help or pics of where they are on your truck. How many am i sopose to have on my truck i think i found one on the passanger side it looks like someone cut it. It was conected to the cab and the frame if this is one let me know.

08-27-2007, 05:00 PM	#2
Luvlegs Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Smith Mountain Lake Virginia Posts: 1,537	Re: Grounding straps Sounds like it. I also have one that goes to an inner fender and the frame. I think there is one that goes from the firewall to a valve cover bolt also. If I am not mistaken, cdowns also posted that there was a ground from the frame to the bed. I replied asking anyone for pics or location of one but didn't see any response. __________________ "A cat will almost always blink when hit between the eyes with a ball peen hammer" (you don't always have to state the obvious) Wear your PPE! You can eat with false teeth but you can't see with a false eye. 1959 Studebaker Silverhawk 350/400 1972 C10 L6 3OTT 2005 F350 - Built - whew!

08-27-2007, 05:22 PM	#3
lilred67 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: weatherford,texas Posts: 1,003	Re: Grounding straps i added another one from the neg.battery post to the core support. there should be 2 from the valve cover bolts to the fire wall. the wood floor beds could really use one from frame to bed, i have had problems with a couple of these trucks to where the rear lights didn't work and it was a grounding problem.added a ground wire and fixed it.

08-27-2007, 05:30 PM	#4
72lb4x4 Account Suspended Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: DFW Posts: 1,427	Re: Grounding straps Also on the cab by the (I think) front cab supports. I'd say the bed has to have at least one... This info is in the assembly manual, but since there's no table of contents or index, info is tough to find.

08-27-2007, 05:45 PM	#5
blukangoo Neighborhood Pickle Slinger Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cadolzburg, Bavaria, Germany Posts: 2,224	Re: Grounding straps I made sure that these parts had grounding straps on them. 1. Engine to Firewall 2. Frame to the back of the Bed 3. Battery negative to the Fender 4. Cab to frame 5. Because of the modifications to the electrical system I had to run a groundwire to the Radiator Assembly. My Headlights wouldn´t work without it even though the lights have thier own Negative. __________________ -------------------------------------------------- My C10 Diary Our cars: 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle 396 - TH350 1968 Chevrolet C10/CST 327 TH400/375 1969 Corvette Stingray 350 - Muncie Manual Trans 1969 Chevrolet ElCamino 350 - TH400 1970 Cutlass Supreme Convertible - 350 Rocket - TH350 1973 Camaro LT - New Engine Done - TH350 1973 Corvette Convertible 454 - TH400

08-30-2007, 09:01 AM	#7
Luvlegs Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Smith Mountain Lake Virginia Posts: 1,537	Re: Grounding straps WOW - is that factory (size, connection, location)???? It looks like the battery ground cable! Thanks for the pic. __________________ "A cat will almost always blink when hit between the eyes with a ball peen hammer" (you don't always have to state the obvious) Wear your PPE! You can eat with false teeth but you can't see with a false eye. 1959 Studebaker Silverhawk 350/400 1972 C10 L6 3OTT 2005 F350 - Built - whew!

08-31-2007, 04:16 PM	#10
71MUTT Can't ReMember Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Orlando area Posts: 258	Re: Grounding straps I've got every factory ground still hooked up on my truck and still had to ground the tail light housings directly to the frame. I wonder if all that beautiful rust has anything to do with it. __________________ Adversity doesn't test your character; it reveals it. 71 C-10 LWB 350/TH350. I purchased it in 1978 for $1400. I'm currently abusing it daily. (when it's running )

08-31-2007, 06:14 PM	#12
MXmaniac Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Denton, Texas Posts: 356	Re: Grounding straps I added some ground straps from the frame to the bed, and some other places. It really brightened up my tail and brake lights. Be sure to clean the spot where you are going to put the strap with some sand paper or one of those bits for your drill. That alone makes a big difference. __________________ Andrew '69 C-20(292, 4-speed) Retired Daily Driver '64 C-10(250, 3-speed) Fixerupper '97 F*rd Mustang GT(4.6L, 5-speed) Daily Driver If I only wanted two pedals I'd have bought a bicycle.

08-31-2007, 08:37 PM	#13
Shyguy Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southeast Missouri Posts: 2,436	Re: Grounding straps Everything works on my '71 C-10, but since I have been reading about grounding straps I better check my truck over. I know for sure that there are not any between the engine and the fire-wall. I know on old F* tractors I run a ground strap to one of the mounting bolts for the starter and it makes them start better. Danny - Southeast Missouri



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