ground straps
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 74
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From: Columbia Maryland
ground straps
My mechanic told me that the car has no ground straps.It is a sidepipe car ;how many does it need and where do they go? I thought that they were mainly for the radio,do they have other uses??? As usual I need your expertise. thanks everyone. george
Burning Brakes
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From: Ct
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Re: ground straps (backagain)
Ground straps are for radio noise suppression. My original 66 side pipe car has straps as follows:
Accelerator linkage to intake manifold
Pass side engine to frame at mount
Drivers side birdcage to frame
Power antenna to frame
Hope this helps - also the AIM will show all this in detail for you. Your can buy a ground strap kit at Long Island Corvette Supply or similar vendor.
Accelerator linkage to intake manifold
Pass side engine to frame at mount
Drivers side birdcage to frame
Power antenna to frame
Hope this helps - also the AIM will show all this in detail for you. Your can buy a ground strap kit at Long Island Corvette Supply or similar vendor.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 7,246
Likes: 21
From: Going too fast over the hill. Iowa
Re: ground straps (backagain)
Ground straps are not for radio noise suppression. The collection of capacitors on the accesory line, the brake switch, the flasher, the coil, and the voltage regulator - along with the shielding - do that function. You canactually tell by the annoying sound from the radio - which capacitor is missing or bad.
The ground straps are just that. They are placed to keep the metal frame, "birdgcage", engine, transmission, etcetera at the same base (ground) voltage level - so that everything from back up lamps to the clock can work at peak efficiency. :thumbs:
The ground straps are just that. They are placed to keep the metal frame, "birdgcage", engine, transmission, etcetera at the same base (ground) voltage level - so that everything from back up lamps to the clock can work at peak efficiency. :thumbs:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 816
Likes: 37
From: Wilmington NC
Re: ground straps (magicv8)
Magicv8,
I too thought that the response from 66BBCoupe, about the ground straps being used for radio noise suppression, was incorrect. But, even as you stated that the capacitors and the shielding do that function, I realized that he is somewhat correct. In order for the capacitors and the shields to suppress noise properly, they all have to have a good common ground potential. These ground wires help provide this common ground potential.
You are correct that the capacitors actually perform the function of filtering the high frequency noise to ground but, the ground does play an important part.
GaryC
I too thought that the response from 66BBCoupe, about the ground straps being used for radio noise suppression, was incorrect. But, even as you stated that the capacitors and the shielding do that function, I realized that he is somewhat correct. In order for the capacitors and the shields to suppress noise properly, they all have to have a good common ground potential. These ground wires help provide this common ground potential.
You are correct that the capacitors actually perform the function of filtering the high frequency noise to ground but, the ground does play an important part.
GaryC
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,500
Likes: 108
From: Severn Maryland
St. Jude Donor '05-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Re: ground straps (magicv8)
So, for my 1963 SWC with "RADIO DELETE" or is that "RADIO NOT ORDERED" do I need the straps or don't I? Reason I ask, I don't have a single one on the car now!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 816
Likes: 37
From: Wilmington NC
Re: ground straps (mdz06vetter)
I don't think it would hurt to have the straps attached. Especially the two that connect the frame to the block at the motor mounts or the one on the drivers side at the #1 body post. My reasoning is that electrical parts like the headlights, parking lights and head light motors get there ground connection from the frame. The battery ground is connected to the bell housing (which of coarse is connected to the block). So, I think that the ground straps can help with the connection from the battery (via the block) to the electrical part (via the frame). So, I think that these straps help with this connection. The connections I stated here are for a '63. I don't know about other years.
Anyway, that is my thought.
GaryC
Anyway, that is my thought.
GaryC
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Instructor
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
From: Austin Texas
Re: ground straps
I agree with both GaryC and MagicV8. Not letting grounds float and keeping them all at the same potential will save you problems down the road and keep everything reading accuritly. Also it will help keep down corrosion on your engine.
From an electrical tech, Dave
From an electrical tech, Dave
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,077
Likes: 2
From: The Garden Spot of the Garden State
Re: ground straps (backagain)
...a ground is a ground is a ground....so adding the correct grounding straps will improve all electrical connections, making the capacitors more efficient, the lights more efficient, etc....
..the more ground straps you add, the better...if you only add one, add the strap from the driver's side frame to the motor mount since you have a bunch of metal in the engine...these cars are highly sensitive to the quality of electrical grounds
..the more ground straps you add, the better...if you only add one, add the strap from the driver's side frame to the motor mount since you have a bunch of metal in the engine...these cars are highly sensitive to the quality of electrical grounds
