Grounding Straps on Big Block - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

thefatguy · 01-17-2009, 09:04 PM

This is kind of a dumb question, but how are the engine grounding straps connected on your 73-87? I'm working on a 78 Big 10 with a 454 BBC, and I've got some electrical gremlins*, and I think it's due to wacky grounding.

The cab-to-block strap is directly out of the cab (no exterior attachment), through the firewall, and currently is attached to a valve cover bolt (!).

The block-to-whatever is...dangling. And it looks too short to go to the frame, plus the frame over there has no OBVIOUS place to put it.

My bud tells me that the cab-to-block needs to go the back of the block. My block-to-frame is attached to the back of the block on the passenger side, but you gotta be a contortionist to get a wrench on that one, or skinnier than me.

Any help or ideas at all? I'm just going to put a self-tapper in the frame tomorrow for the block-to-frame, if not.

* The funniest one is that the oil pressure and the voltmeter tick in time with the turn signal when it's on. The worst is on that I don't have a battery terminal on my fuse block that is powered so all my fine work on a $50 pawnshop radio is moot. And the gas gauge is flaky, but I can live with that.

James McClure · 01-18-2009, 06:39 PM

Cab to engine strap is off the rear of the right head to the firewall. Engine to chassis varies from a tab on the engine to battery ground cable to a seperate 10 ga wire from eng block to chassis. Radiator support has a wire from the ground cable end to the support. Run extra wires if you must but get everything grounded. This will help with rust also. Don't know why but it does. jim

01-17-2009, 09:04 PM	#1
thefatguy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 55	Grounding Straps on Big Block This is kind of a dumb question, but how are the engine grounding straps connected on your 73-87? I'm working on a 78 Big 10 with a 454 BBC, and I've got some electrical gremlins, and I think it's due to wacky grounding. The cab-to-block strap is directly out of the cab (no exterior attachment), through the firewall, and currently is attached to a valve cover bolt (!). The block-to-whatever is...dangling. And it looks too short to go to the frame, plus the frame over there has no OBVIOUS place to put it. My bud tells me that the cab-to-block needs to go the back of the block. My block-to-frame is attached to the back of the block on the passenger side, but you gotta be a contortionist to get a wrench on that one, or skinnier than me. Any help or ideas at all? I'm just going to put a self-tapper in the frame tomorrow for the block-to-frame, if not. The funniest one is that the oil pressure and the voltmeter tick in time with the turn signal when it's on. The worst is on that I don't have a battery terminal on my fuse block that is powered so all my fine work on a $50 pawnshop radio is moot. And the gas gauge is flaky, but I can live with that. __________________ 1978 Silverado Big 10 - "The River Runner" 1969 GMC C/10 - "The 2008-09 Winter Project"

01-18-2009, 06:39 PM	#2
James McClure One shot, one kill. Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Saratoga Springs NY Posts: 859	Re: Grounding Straps on Big Block Cab to engine strap is off the rear of the right head to the firewall. Engine to chassis varies from a tab on the engine to battery ground cable to a seperate 10 ga wire from eng block to chassis. Radiator support has a wire from the ground cable end to the support. Run extra wires if you must but get everything grounded. This will help with rust also. Don't know why but it does. jim __________________ 1984 K20 350M engine with 465,000 miles. Well, it's finally done!! Almost 2 years of work, but it was really worth the effort. Little stuff left to do is mount winch, wet sand & buff out and build belly pan\running boards. Body work takes lots and LOTS of beer!!!! God, Guts and Guns made America and God, Guts and Guns will preserve it! The worst thing you could do is get into my sights, but that don't matter, you'll never know it, cause you'll never hear the shotJim or Paladin whichever you choose.



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