Engine to Frame Ground Cable
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: League City Texas
Engine to Frame Ground Cable
Good Morning, I recently replaced my starter on my 75. However I am having trouble restarting the car when the engine is hot. Sometimes the starter doesn't even turn over. Before I wrap the solenoid in header wrap, was wanting to check the connection on the block to frame ground cable. Can someone help me find where this cable is? Thanks!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 112
From: Great Plains Iowa
Lousy OEM Aluminum Ground Cables
Good Morning, I recently replaced my starter on my 75. However I am having trouble restarting the car when the engine is hot. Sometimes the starter doesn't even turn over. Before I wrap the solenoid in header wrap, was wanting to check the connection on the block to frame ground cable. Can someone help me find where this cable is? Thanks!
The cable attaches to your block right in front of your starter and attaches to the underside of the frame. Its 18" long and its a lousy aluminum cable with aluminum ends. It is recommended to replace that worthless cable with a quality 4 gauge copper cable with copper ends because the OEM aluminum cable will get severe corrosion INSIDE the ends and there's no way to remove that corrosion. Those aluminum ground cables are about 95% the cause of the so-called "hot starter" problems that you constantly hear about when in fact it was a bad aluminum ground cable causing the whole problem.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 14
From: Airdrie Alberta
here are some pics..
its a good idea to make sure there's no paint on the block where the starter mounts, clean tight grounds and heat shield in place
When i was reassembling i used star washers on all the grounds and cleaned any paint off at point of contact
You can see the ground cable in upper right by starter brace
(These were before resto LOL )
Other side of ground cable by engine mount
its a good idea to make sure there's no paint on the block where the starter mounts, clean tight grounds and heat shield in place
When i was reassembling i used star washers on all the grounds and cleaned any paint off at point of contact
You can see the ground cable in upper right by starter brace
(These were before resto LOL )
Other side of ground cable by engine mount
Last edited by hwcoop; Nov 7, 2015 at 11:14 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,170
Likes: 4,248
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi,
In looking at hwc's pictures and description I was reminded that the AIM shows the 'star' washer on the starter brace to block bolt is between the ground cable and brace, not directly under the bolt's head, nor between the brace and the block.
BUT, at the engine mount connection the 'star' washer is directly under the bolt's head.
Regards,
Alan
In looking at hwc's pictures and description I was reminded that the AIM shows the 'star' washer on the starter brace to block bolt is between the ground cable and brace, not directly under the bolt's head, nor between the brace and the block.
BUT, at the engine mount connection the 'star' washer is directly under the bolt's head.
Regards,
Alan
Last edited by Alan 71; Nov 7, 2015 at 12:24 PM.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,559
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From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
I also added one to my '68 basket-case when I had hot=start problems. The main cause was the copper connector at the 12V lug on the starter was stress-cracked and held in place by pressure of the lock washer/nut.
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Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
All the OE cables were either 2 or 4 gauge copper.....If you have aluminum cables, they are cheap aftermarket parts....,{discount stores},,,,On any Vette they will cause problems ...Attention, there is a very important cable attachment for the ground....It's right under the driver's seat and If this is missing, it will cause the OP the problem presented .....One of which is slow cranking and on this forum would automatically blame the starter for that condition....most [people don't even know it exists
Last edited by Ironcross; Nov 8, 2015 at 12:27 PM.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: League City Texas
All the OE cables were either 2 or 4 gauge copper.....If you have aluminum cables, they are cheap aftermarket parts....,{discount stores},,,,On any Vette they will cause problems ...Attention, there is a very important cable attachment for the ground....It's right under the driver's seat and If this is missing, it will cause the OP the problem presented .....One of which is slow cranking and on this forum would automatically blame the starter for that condition....most [people don't even know it exists
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 49
Likes: 9
From: Miami Florida
I had the same hot start issue when I first bought my 72. Re-built my original starter, replaced the ground cable from the battery to the frame, installed a factory-style heat shield on the starter that was missing and even cleaned up the wiring to the starter with new connectors. Still had intermittent starter issues when hot!
After reading some of the posts here on the forum, I replaced the starter brace to engine mount ground cable yesterday making sure to clean all the surfaces and bolts. Took it out for a 1-hour drive in 90 degree South Florida weather getting the engine up to about 210 degrees. It started right up several times after the drive. Got my fingers crossed!
After reading some of the posts here on the forum, I replaced the starter brace to engine mount ground cable yesterday making sure to clean all the surfaces and bolts. Took it out for a 1-hour drive in 90 degree South Florida weather getting the engine up to about 210 degrees. It started right up several times after the drive. Got my fingers crossed!
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
No pictures available.....However the cable is only about 12-14 long .......Also your original cables will be 4 or 2 gauge copper, NOT aluminum garbage...They can be purchased at any REAL parts stores....not that discount crap the chains sell. Plus a battery of at least 850 cold cranking power and you will never go down that so called hot starts problem....Hell, the whole engine gets to hot to handle, not only the starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 681
Likes: 31
From: Nebraska
Im interested in a pic of this as well.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,874
Likes: 3,551
From: Fernandina Beach FL
2023 Restomod of the Year finalist
2020 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
Here's a pic-
Battery ground behind drivers seat-
STAR washer should be BETWEEN frame and cable end lug- not as in this pic- between bolt and lug...
Just me- I like the look for the copper braided ground straps- Summit had them on sale and I used them on pass and driver sides and from starter to block (not a Chevy engine...)
Battery ground behind drivers seat-
STAR washer should be BETWEEN frame and cable end lug- not as in this pic- between bolt and lug...
Just me- I like the look for the copper braided ground straps- Summit had them on sale and I used them on pass and driver sides and from starter to block (not a Chevy engine...)
Last edited by Richard454; Nov 13, 2015 at 10:22 PM.