Ground wire locations

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Apr 19, 2007 | 12:01 AM

paulcooper1969

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Ground wire locations

After reading some threads on ground wires I have some questions where they should be located. I rebuilt the motor a few years back and and relocated the ground wires to the following locations

The ground from the battery is going to the frame and another from the frame to the block and one from the back of the block to the cab is that correct?
Thanks for the replies
Paul C.

Apr 19, 2007 | 12:34 AM

Broken40

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From: Emmett, ID

You can put the ground wires anywhere you want that is clean and has no grease...as long as you have a full metal contact (steal, iron, etc) you can put that ground anywhere you want.

Apr 19, 2007 | 12:58 AM

fmc400

MSEE

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From: Austin, TX

That setup will work, just make sure the cable from the block to the frame is heavy enough gauge. That's where the starter will ground through, in your setup. Also as a general rule, never assume an engine block has a clean connection to the frame. The motor mounts do not always form a conductive path. I see you have the frame and the block connected which is good.

Another common setup is to run the negative cable straight to the block, and then from the block to the cab (like yours). Just like Broken40 said, the main thing is that the contacts are clean, unpainted and free of grease.

Last edited by fmc400; Apr 19, 2007 at 01:01 AM.

Apr 19, 2007 | 09:04 AM

subford

Fleet Owner

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From: Easton,Ks

You do not need to ground the frame unless you pull a trailer.
The most important is from the negative post to the block and not byway of the frame.
The second most important is from the negative post to the body.

Apr 19, 2007 | 09:36 AM

Franklin2

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From: Virginia

The most demanding load of the whole elec system is the starter. I feel it should be given priority as far as grounding.

So if you run the large ground from the battery to the frame, stop, and then bolt another large wire at the same spot and go to the engine block, this would be ok, but you are introducing another unnecessary connection between the starter ground and the battery negative. Connections can corroded, and always add resistance, no matter how good they are.

I think you will be fine the way you have it, but my preference is to run the cable straight from the battery neg to the block. Then if you want to ground the frame, then run a small 10 gauge wire to the frame, since most normal loads that are hooked to the frame are small lighting loads. If you happen to have a power liftgate at the rear or something like that, you could run a large 4 or 6 gauge wire from the block to the frame, and use the frame as the return for the liftgate.