Firewall to engine ground strap?

limp · Jun 6, 2023

When I did cars as a younger man we always added a firewall to engine ground strap usually one of the heavier braided straps you see for sale at the auto parts store...
I really can't see any good spots or larger bolts on my Fox firewall to attach one to.....
Is this done to a fox body and if so, where is everyone attaching it to??
Thanks for any ideas here...

AeroCoupe · Jun 6, 2023

Upper bell housing bolt to the stud you mount the accumulator on the AC to. At least that is what I remember.

limp · Jun 6, 2023

AeroCoupe said:
Upper bell housing bolt to the stud you mount the accumulator on the AC to. At least that is what I remember.

OK... that accumulator mounting stud is pretty small?

Mustang5L5 · Jun 6, 2023

Stock fox has that tiny braided line on the drives side near the speedo cable hole. At least the EFI cars do

I upgraded mine to a 4G cable with crimped ends. One end to a bolt to the back of the head, the other to the original mounting location, but with a larger bolt and more contact area.

One good ground is better than multiple grounds with suspect contact points to avoid what is known as ground loops.

Noobz347 · Jun 6, 2023

Mustang5L5 said:
One good ground is better than multiple grounds with suspect contact points to avoid what is known as ground loops.

^this^

I've been on the receiving end of an electronic 'noise' I couldn't figure out before. Guess what it was?

limp · Jun 6, 2023

Mustang5L5 said:
Stock fox has that tiny braided line on the drives side near the speedo cable hole. At least the EFI cars do

I upgraded mine to a 4G cable with crimped ends. One end to a bolt to the back of the head, the other to the original mounting location, but with a larger bolt and more contact area.

One good ground is better than multiple grounds with suspect contact points to avoid what is known as ground loops.

I will take a look at that area..... Thank you

evintho · Jun 6, 2023

You asked for ideas so here's mine. On my avatar '89 I made the entire frame a ground plane. I welded a solid bar w/two 3/8" studs to the frame and ran the Neg batt cable to one then ran a 4ga cable from the block to the other stud. Welded a plate with studs to the other frame rail also and ran another 4ga cable from that side of the block to the studs. Any other factory grounds on the car were all run to a ground bar which was grounded to the frame stud. I've done this on every car I've ever built and have never had a ground issue.

General karthief · Jun 7, 2023

Noobz347 said:
^this^

I've been on the receiving end of an electronic 'noise' I couldn't figure out before. Guess what it was?

a Prius stuck in your grill?

Noobz347 · Jun 7, 2023

General karthief said:
a Prius stuck in your grill?

Pretty sure that would have gone through the air filter without issue.

flynndawg · Jun 10, 2023

limp said:
When I did cars as a younger man we always added a firewall to engine ground strap usually one of the heavier braided straps you see for sale at the auto parts store...
I really can't see any good spots or larger bolts on my Fox firewall to attach one to.....
Is this done to a fox body and if so, where is everyone attaching it to??
Thanks for any ideas here...

i think i did this but its been awhile , i will have to look, i did it on my bronco but it of course isnt the same...

Willybill32 · Jun 10, 2023

evintho said:
You asked for ideas so here's mine. On my avatar '89 I made the entire frame a ground plane. I welded a solid bar w/two 3/8" studs to the frame and ran the Neg batt cable to one then ran a 4ga cable from the block to the other stud. Welded a plate with studs to the other frame rail also and ran another 4ga cable from that side of the block to the studs. Any other factory grounds on the car were all run to a ground bar which was grounded to the frame stud. I've done this on every car I've ever built and have never had a ground issue.

Now I like that!

Bill

limp · Jun 10, 2023

I " think " what I might do is drill a hole in the firewall and attach the wire with a larger diameter ( 5/16 ) self tapper.. Waiting for a ground strap to play with....

Mustang5L5 · Jun 11, 2023

Here’s mine. Hard to see but I replaced the original braided strap with 4g welding cable. One end is bolted to the back of drivers side head and the other bolts to the firewall in original spot. This is just next to the clutch cable

limp · Jun 12, 2023

Mustang5L5 said:
Here’s mine. Hard to see but I replaced the original braided strap with 4g welding cable. One end is bolted to the back of drivers side head and the other bolts to the firewall in original spot. This is just next to the clutch cable

Thanks.... I will look again, but I don't think my 83 has this ....

General karthief · Jun 12, 2023

Your stang likely did not have a ground in that location, I think it is an EFI thing.
Can't hurt to add one but beware of 'ground strap overkill'.
Yeah, it's a thing
If not it should be.

limp · Jun 12, 2023

General karthief said:
Your stang likely did not have a ground in that location, I think it is an EFI thing.
Can't hurt to add one but beware of 'ground strap overkill'.
Yeah, it's a thing
If not it should be.

I hear you General.... I was thinking the same thing about it being an EFI thing...
Back in the day, the tales always went that for the engine to get ground ( Without a firewall ground ) it had to travel all the way down the transmission, the driveline then into the rear end housing to finally get to the body/frame........

85GTStangGuy · Jun 12, 2023

General karthief said:
Your stang likely did not have a ground in that location, I think it is an EFI thing.

Yea, my carb'ed 85 doesn't have one there.

85GTStangGuy · Jun 20, 2023

limp said:
I " think " what I might do is drill a hole in the firewall and attach the wire with a larger diameter ( 5/16 ) self tapper.. Waiting for a ground strap to play with....

The stock engine ground wire on my 85 attaches to the firewall about 1-1/4" (towards the driver's side of the car) from the 3/4" heater core hose, at the same height as the heater hoses.

I can get a pic if you need one.

limp · Jun 21, 2023

85GTStangGuy said:
The stock engine ground wire on my 85 attaches to the firewall about 1-1/4" (towards the driver's side of the car) from the 3/4" heater core hose, at the same height as the heater hoses.

I can get a pic if you need one.

PLease... thanks

85GTStangGuy · Jun 21, 2023

limp said:
PLease... thanks

Firewall to engine ground strap?

limp

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

AeroCoupe

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

limp

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

limp

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

evintho

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

flynndawg

Member

Willybill32

But at least it's tight!

limp

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

limp

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

limp

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

85GTStangGuy

85GTStangGuy

limp

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

85GTStangGuy

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Firewall to engine ground strap?

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

Member

But at least it's tight!

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

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