Did radio delete trucks not come with an engine grounding strap?

[Mister-B]

My truck is a radio delete. I've since purchased a factory AM radio, wiring, antenna, and factory speaker. It all works, but reception goes way downhill when the engine starts and especially when driven. Someone mentioned a grounding strap would help, if mine were removed or got rusted. Well, I couldn't see one on my truck. I went to the junk yard, and found two 67-72's with decent engine ground straps, so I bought them. I get home to install them, and I can't find the mounting hole on my firewall. It should be just to the right of the heater box on the firewall. I mean, I just removed two of them, so I know where to look... But I'm not seeing the hole in my firewall. Did radio delete trucks not come with the strap? Any other ideas of where it would mount?
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[SS Tim]

"Did radio delete trucks not come with the strap?" Bingo..... That was why I brought it up in the first place. The assembly manual shows one extending from each of the two rear lower valve cover bolts then extending to the firewall. Also there is a capacitor on the coil and the heater blower motor. If someone has the CD version would you post the page and the front wheel grounds as well?

[Mister-B]

Originally Posted by SS Tim

"Did radio delete trucks not come with the strap?" Bingo..... That was why I brought it up in the first place. The assembly manual shows one extending from each of the two rear lower valve cover bolts then extending to the firewall. Also there is a capacitor on the coil and the heater blower motor. If someone has the CD version would you post the page and the front wheel grounds as well?

Interesting. So, a radio equipped truck is supposed to have two, but a radio delete truck has zero? I guess I could just drill a couple holes myself into the firewall.
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[SS Tim]

Well like I said the assembly manual shows tow for V-8 trucks. I am doing this off memory. Hope that Leon (Lockdoc) will post it up for you. Really don't have time to look for it. But I do want to look at some survivor truck pictures too before I tell you where and how many holes to add to your truck. Did you ever get an assembly manual on paper or CD?

[cdowns]

you can never add too many ground wires

[71K20chevy]

I know this isn't the best pic but it's better than nothing...if you look closely you can see where they're at, it's the stock holes.


Strange enough, mine doesn't have one going from the frame to the cab...


EDIT-just found a thread with helpful pics
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?p=4200642

[Mister-B]

Originally Posted by 71K20chevy

I know this isn't the best pic but it's better than nothing...if you look closely you can see where they're at, it's the stock holes.


Strange enough, mine doesn't have one going from the frame to the cab...


EDIT-just found a thread with helpful pics
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?p=4200642

Thanks for the help! I wonder if the two trucks at the junkyard were 6 cylinder engines, and are mounted in a different spot then the V8?
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[71K20chevy]

This is a pic from the thread I posted, looks like it is in a different spot...however I don't know if the lengths are the same or not.

[pritch]

Originally Posted by Mister-B

I wonder if the two trucks at the junkyard were 6 cylinder engines, and are mounted in a different spot then the V8?

I could look at my L6 trucks tomorrow, but I think they are both long gone.

[Mister-B]

Originally Posted by pritch

I could look at my L6 trucks tomorrow, but I think they are both long gone.

Thanks for offering, but now I'm really confused after poking around more in my engine. Looks like it does have a good engine ground strap that's connected. Here's a pic


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[ARC190]

Stumbled across this a few days ago. I saved it because I have bonding straps dangling in a few places. I figure I'll go through and fix stuff eventually.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=518727
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[Mister-B]

Originally Posted by ARC190

Stumbled across this a few days ago. I saved it because I have bonding straps dangling in a few places. I figure I'll go through and fix stuff eventually.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=518727
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Thanks. That's helpful. I can see that mine is mounted to a bolt in the center back of the engine block, while the drawings say a V8 should have them in either side of the engine, connected to the valve cover. I wonder if that's part of my problem?

Also, it looks like there are multiple other smaller straps for the frame and such. What's the purpose of those? Do they also help with radio reception?
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[Sloan66]

Just confirming, I have an untouched 71 radio delete truck, no ground straps from valve covers to fire wall. I have one under passenger door from frame to cab, one from frame to bed and one from driver side inner fender to frame.

[ARC190]

I had the one from valve covers to cab connected up to a few weeks ago and when I did gaskets. I forgot to hook it back up and now I have more interference and when the auto transmission shifts I can hear a quick click over the radio. I'll take that as proof that the one strap, at a minimum, makes a difference. All they do is provide a common ground throughout the truck that will help minimize the noises from the dirty power produced by the charging system. I know that at least one other strap is not hooked up because i can see it. AM is very sensetive to disturbances, which is what makes FM so preferable. I have one section of road on my way to work that is lined by power lines and the AM signal is drowned out by the interference. I'll probably hook them both up when I do my plugs in the next week or two.
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[Tom Vogel]

Originally Posted by cdowns

you can never add too many ground wires

^^^^^ this man is corect. put in the grounds.

[red71c10]

Very interesting. My truck does not have a radio listed on the SPID so I guess it was added by the dealer. My truck does not have the grounding straps coming off the valve covers either. My radio seems to work fine though unless it's a weak station from out of town or something and then i do get interference and sometimes hear the ignition through it.

[knsmodels]

just to help with the evidence....radio delete truck...no grounding straps here....