At the Mustang show yesterday I noticed just about every early Mustang had a ground wire going from the rear of the right cylinder head to the firewall. A 69 Mach 1 had the wide braided type and just about every other had a single wire type - some were broken but obviously had been there. I have flickering lights and was wondering if Mavericks originally had these. Also ... what is the difference between grounding the block to the chassis as opposed to having the additional ground on the negative battery post going directly to the chassis?
I always add a ground or two to be safe. ] The rubber mounts interfer with the ground. The starter would be affected typically if your motor is not grounded very well.
I do notice there is no hole in the firewall like a bolt should have been there for a ground wire ... Guess you could drill one or use one of the heater core housing studs.... Here is a repop Motorcraft wire ....
I'm pretty sure I know why you are supposed to ground the block to the chassis and not the negative battery terminal. Years ago I helped some friends install an engine in a Chevy truck. One of the guys had attached the negative battery cable to the chassis. The engine had a braided ground wire like the one above going to the block. The first crank of the engine did turn the engine over long before huge amounts of smoke were coming out of the engine compartment. The starter had grounded through the braided line, turned red hot and basically disintegrated!
Exactly!! a mechanic I've worked with in the past recommends running a ground wire under one of the radiator hoses from the engine to the radiator to help prevent electrolosis in the radiator. He's a smart good ol'boy, so if it doesn't make a difference, he won't bother.
I added one to mine. It is braided, cut to fit with copper terminal ends soldered on. I attached it to the back intake bolt and the bottom side of the gas vent line below the shock tower brace at the firewall. Mine did not come with one although it did have the flexible contact on the passenger side at the firewall. This I did not put back on as it was broken. I don't know what that was for. Seth
my 77 had one and when the wire deteorated enough it wouldn't crank until I hooked jumper cable to complete ground. replaced it with new braided one and it never given problem since.
Actually from the factory, the negitive battery cable went from the post, to the base of the voltage regulator, and then to the block. Poor grounds to the chassis will burn out a voltage regulator. Thats why Ford did it this way. My Sprint still had the braded cable too although it wasent a big one like that. They help prevent ground loops. I always put one on.
when i was trying to get me maverick running to drive home after i bought it..... i bought new battery, cables , voltage regulator, alternator, etc.....plugged everyhting in and the car would not turn over....no clicks...nothing.... put the old batery cabels on and it started fine and ran awesome....reason...i took off the negative cable that attached to the block ..... so in my experieince....yes....a chassis to engine ground is definetly needed
Not sure about definitely because I personally have never had a Maverick that had one ... but benificial for sure ...
I read somewhere that recommended putting a ground strap to each head to the firewall, Said it helped give the plugs a solid ground to improve spark. If you think about all the gaskets and thread sealer in between the plugs and the ground of the battery it kind of makes since, clint
