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The bed and bumpers (front & back) should already be grounded by virtue of the fact that they are all connected directly to the frame via robust bolts and brackets. The key grounds are battery negative to engine block and engine block to frame. I have AWS 4 cables for these two key grounds. All other grounds can be AWS 10 or so. The braided ground straps are prettier and work just as well. That leaves the cab which is critical because it is the source or a great many things large and small that need to be grounded. On my '76 regular cab, I have a braided ground from the cab to the frame that is not stock but I like it:
There is a smaller factory braided wire in this vicinity that goes from the cab firewall to the engine block and another small braided ground that goes from the cab firewall to the hood.
One would think that a lot of these grounds are redundant and unnecessary but apparently Ford engineers were concerned about the insulation character of paints. Take the starter for instance. If you have painted your engine block including the round hole where the starter mounts you might be inadvertantly depriving your starter of a proper ground. Indeed, every ground should be bare metal to bare metal, not bare metal to paint. A small wire brush on a die grinder will take care of that nicely. If appearance is important, use little round stickers, paint and then remove the sticker applying a little dab of grease to ward off rust, then attach the ground strap.
Two reasons I can think of.
The hood light, which was an option I believe, and radio noise interference.
I have a hood light and a ground strap.
The hood is a big expanse of metal very close to the radio and antenna. Grounding it should subdue that slightly.
But you definitely want a reliable ground if you have the hood lamp. I’m sure the hinges and everything provide a reasonable ground path, but why not make sure in the long run.
Two reasons I can think of.
The hood light, which was an option I believe, and radio noise interference.
I have a hood light and a ground strap.
The hood is a big expanse of metal very close to the radio and antenna. Grounding it should subdue that slightly.
But you definitely want a reliable ground if you have the hood lamp. I’m sure the hinges and everything provide a reasonable ground path, but why not make sure in the long run.
Yes and yes. Lower resistance for path to ground than through the hood hinges for the light and better radio signal. A stronger ground plain should make everything work better. I saw an immediate difference in my lighting system by adding a few more here and there.
I need to add some grounds to mine. Where did you find those braided straps?? NAPA? Pacific Power??
You can order a kit from LMC that comes with a few different sizes but the best place I've found so far is interstate batteries. The dudes at my local O'Reilly's didn't know what I was talking about and finally found 1 in the store which was that little baby one sold by doorman.
Interstate batteries for I think the 1"x8" OAL was about 8 bucks a pop which is way cheaper than a lot of places I looked online. I wouldn't trust the ones on Amazon, from what I could tell they are cheesy and look like the 1/4" or even 1/2" sizes,. Maybe I'm not taking that gamble, most things I've gotten off amazon myself are cheap pieces of junk. They don't disclose the strap sizes on Amazon.
I need to add some grounds to mine. Where did you find those braided straps?? NAPA? Pacific Power??
Oh I just realized you're right up the road from me, also a good place to get cheap batteries. Pull up with the truck you need a battery for, they will replace it for you and be sure to ask for a "BLEM" as it will be WAY cheaper.
Exit 186 heading South on I5, you pass through a free turn I think right as you get off the ramp but the tricky part is you gotta get to the furthest left lane before the traffic light, left at the star bucks and stay in the left lane cause the right becomes a right turn only. Then just follow 4th and its becomes 134th and it'll be on your right, its not far from I5. If you hit Ash Way you've gone too far.
Oh I just realized you're right up the road from me, also a good place to get cheap batteries. Pull up with the truck you need a battery for, they will replace it for you and be sure to ask for a "BLEM" as it will be WAY cheaper.
Exit 186 heading South on I5, you pass through a free turn I think right as you get off the ramp but the tricky part is you gotta get to the furthest left lane before the traffic light, left at the star bucks and stay in the left lane cause the right becomes a right turn only. Then just follow 4th and its becomes 134th and it'll be on your right, its not far from I5. If you hit Ash Way you've gone too far.
727 134th St SW, Everett, WA 98204
Excellent thank you. Glad to know Interstate Battery is still there. Had a condo off of 130th bout 20yrs ago. Very familiar with South Evt.
Excellent thank you. Glad to know Interstate Battery is still there. Had a condo off of 130th bout 20yrs ago. Very familiar with South Evt.
Last time I was there I saw a 78 or 79 fully restored Bronco, wish I had time to chat with the guy. Grey with black trim. I learned that they also stock a lot of good electrical supplies there too like the cole hersee solenoids I couldn't find anywhere else, connectors, tools etc.
