73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Electrical => Topic started by: Stepside Billy on June 17, 2015, 08:42:21 am
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I'm going to replace all the grounding straps on my truck as they are old and I want to head off any problems. May be a dumb question but are negative battery cables good to use? Or should I just use what the truck came with? Don't mind spending more for good parts. Thanks!
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i would replace it with whats on it some grounds are only 16 ga. wire some are braided ground straps
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Ok, thanks. That's kinda what I figured!
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On my truck, the small grounds are black 16 GA wire, the negative battery cable goes to the engine and the engine-frame & engine-body grounds are both braided ground straps.
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Braided ground strap from head to cab which can be found at any parts store. For battery to alternator bracket I used some 4g wire and made my own up.
Those are the only 2 grounds I'm running.
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...Verify that all of the following grounds exist and are making good electrical connection by taking the connections apart and sanding to bare shiny metal - recommended cable sizes are in parentheses. When you're done cleaning, coat the connections with anti-oxidant as you assemble them:
- Battery-to-engine (4 gauge is typical, 2 gauge is recommended)
- Battery-to-right frame rail (10 gauge)
- Battery-to-radiator support (10 gauge)
- Engine-to-left frame rail (an optional ground) (10 gauge or 5/16" braided copper strap)
- Cab firewall-to-back of right cylinder head (10 gauge or 5/16" braided copper strap)
- Instrument panel and cluster grounds-to-cab sheetmetal next to the parking brake pedal assembly (various gauges ranging 18 to 16 gauge)
The above is an inventory of the factory grounds with wire/cable sizes should you need it. Any ground cables that are missing could conjure ghosts... :o ...lol
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Cool. Thank you all for the replies!