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Starter Cable Ground Bracket/Strap

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LARIAT 85

Starter Cable Ground Bracket/Strap

I decided to clean the grounds on the engine block stud where the negative battery cable connects to. Isn't there supposed to be a ground bracket or strap for the starter cable connected here as well? If so, mine went missing at some point. How important is this? Do I need to get another one, or can I just route the starter cable out of the way?

Lucille: 1985 Ford F150 XLT Lariat

*Colors: Dark Canyon Red exterior, Canyon Red interior
*Engine: 5.0, CompCams 31-230-3, "Thumper" E7 heads, Edelbrock Performer intake, Autolite 4100 carburetor, DuraSpark II ignition, Thorley Tri-Y headers, Flowmaster dual exhaust, H-pipe.
*Drivetrain: AOD transmission, 3.55 gears, 2wd.

Rembrant

Re: Starter Cable Ground Bracket/Strap

Hey Lariat,

I took pictures of all of those cables on my '84 when I pulled the engine so I'd know where it all went back together;). The picture below shows how those wires were originally on my 1984 302. These were untouched from new.

There is a strap on that ground stud for the cable going to the starter, but it was not a grounded strap. Just a mounting strap. It was rubber insulated clamped on wire loom.

The ground cable has a grounded strap that attaches to the frame just before it dips down and attaches to that stud.

Does that help?

1994 F150 4x2 Flareside. 5.0 w/MAF, 4R70W, stock.
1984 F150 4X2 Flareside. Mild 302 w/ 5spd. Sold.
1980 F150 4X4 Flareside. 300i6 w/ 5spd. Sold in 2021.
1980 F100 4X2 Flareside. 351w/2bbl w/NP435. Sold in 1995

1986F150Six

Re: Starter Cable Ground Bracket/Strap

Administrator

In reply to this post by LARIAT 85

It is my understanding that the V8 equipped engines depended on the starter to bell housing connection to provide the starter/engine ground. The six bangers routed the cable from the negative post to connect to one of the two bolts for the starter motor. Approximately midway, that cable had a tang which bolted to the frame.

Steve83

Re: Starter Cable Ground Bracket/Strap

Banned User

In reply to this post by LARIAT 85

The strap is to hold the starter hot cable off the frame so it doesn't chafe, or get pinched in the engine mount, or get baked by the exhaust. It's NOT supposed to "clamp" to the wire loom - it should be open & round so the cable's loom can slide freely on the rubber, but it's common for them to be bent. All engines have the frame ground tab midway in the negative cable. V8s have 2 grounding bores in the block casting; I6s use an engine mount bolt, but it's common to find it on a starter mounting bolt. I used to think that's where it belonged, but this Ford diagram says differently:

85lebaront2

Re: Starter Cable Ground Bracket/Strap

Administrator

In reply to this post by 1986F150Six

Darth's original ground cable went from battery negative to the stud right front of the block (where the positive cable support and transmission cooler lines are attached) with a "flag" near the middle that was bolted to the suspension crossmember. Two options, replacement cable to block as that is the high current path and salvage the old flag, strip an area where it needs to go, crimp it over and solder it (it will take a lot of heat). Other is add a short starter cable from block to frame.

Bill AKA "LOBO" Profile

"Getting old is inevitable, growing up is optional" Darth Vader 1986 F350 460 converted to MAF/SEFI, E4OD 12X3 1/2 rear brakes, traction loc 3:55 gear, 160 amp 3G alternator Wife's 2011 Flex Limited Daily Driver 2009 Flex Limited with factory tow package Project car 1986 Chrysler LeBaron convertible 2.2L Turbo II, modified A413

Rembrant

Re: Starter Cable Ground Bracket/Strap

In reply to this post by Steve83

Steve83 wrote

The strap is to hold the starter hot cable off the frame so it doesn't chafe, or get pinched in the engine mount, or get baked by the exhaust. It's NOT supposed to "clamp" to the wire loom - it should be open & round so the cable's loom can slide freely on the rubber, but it's common for them to be bent.

OK, I'm using wrong words again...lol. I didn't mean that you would necessarily clamp the bracket on the cable forcefully although I'm sure lots of them left the assembly line flattened out a little bit. I just meant that this style clamp is usually referred to as a "cushion clamp", and to close it would be to "clamp it".

Mine was flattened out a bit, but not so much that it would bind the cable and prevent it from moving a little bit.

Dyn Blin

Re: Starter Cable Ground Bracket/Strap

In reply to this post by Rembrant

Thread Creep Warning...

Rembrant, is that a Gen 1 alternator harness in your pic?

Sonoma County,CA
1982 F150 Flareside XLS
NP435 4x4
351W Motorcraft 2150

Rembrant

Re: Starter Cable Ground Bracket/Strap

Dyn Blin wrote

Thread Creep Warning...

Rembrant, is that a Gen 1 alternator harness in your pic?

Hey Dyn,

Yes, it sure is. Original alternator is still in the truck in use.

LARIAT 85

Re: Starter Cable Ground Bracket/Strap

I still have a Gen 1 Alternator in Lucille as well.

Dyn Blin

Re: Starter Cable Ground Bracket/Strap

This post was updated on .

In reply to this post by LARIAT 85

That's great you two! Mine too. I was just out today trying to rehab some of the harness on mine: It's a fair bit knackered (the harness that is, the alternator still looks new). Both are still doing the job and the alt spins along giving a steady 14.7v. I keep looking for a replacement harness at the yard, but no luck yet.

Sonoma County,CA
1982 F150 Flareside XLS
NP435 4x4
351W Motorcraft 2150

Rembrant

Re: Starter Cable Ground Bracket/Strap

I'll see what to do with my alternator when it finally fails. The original 40amp unit seems to work fine and it runs smooth, so I figured I'd just leave it as it is for now. The truck still has only 39,000 original miles on it, so a lot of things like the alternator and starter, etc are still the originals.

LARIAT 85

Re: Starter Cable Ground Bracket/Strap

I don't think you can even buy a 40 amp alternator anymore.

The stock 60 amp alternator I am running is a direct upgrade and replacement for your 40 amp unit.

1986F150Six

Re: Starter Cable Ground Bracket/Strap

Administrator

My 1986 [with factory A/C] was "born" with a 60A unit. I took it to a local shop to be rebuilt. They were busy and said it would be a few days unless I was okay with swapping for an alternator they had rebuilt for someone who never returned. I said "fine" and they swapped my pulley.

Guess what? The "new" alternator is a 75A unit! All for $65!!!

Gary Lewis

Re: Starter Cable Ground Bracket/Strap

Administrator

Which may explain why your ammeter swings pretty quickly. But 75A is about the max I'd want to put in. I say that because it is my expectation that the ammeter's shunt is rated for about 70A since that's the biggest alternator that they put in these trucks.

However, the only way you'd hurt the shunt is if you were to have a failing battery or some humongous load that caused the alternator to go full-till for an extended period of time. And that's a very unlikely situation.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

Rembrant

Re: Starter Cable Ground Bracket/Strap

In reply to this post by LARIAT 85

LARIAT 85 wrote

I don't think you can even buy a 40 amp alternator anymore.

The stock 60 amp alternator I am running is a direct upgrade and replacement for your 40 amp unit.

The 40amp would have been because my truck is a bare bones stripper with no radio, and not even a cigarette lighter, or extra bulb anywhere...

Hstrymkrs

Re: Starter Cable Ground Bracket/Strap

In reply to this post by 1986F150Six

This is how my inline 6 was routed on the Bronco as well...minus the squirrel carnage

1985 Ford Bronco XLT, 4.9L, NP-435 transmission, NP0208 transfer case, 3.55 limited slip rear end,TTB Dana 44 with 3.54

LARIAT 85

Re: Starter Cable Ground Bracket/Strap

In reply to this post by 1986F150Six

Good deal!

The 60A unit works fine for me, but I would go for the 75A if given the chance.

And I like the fact that you are doing business with your local rebuild shop. I do the same with my vehicles. I have had nothing but bad experiences whenever I purchased a "rebuilt" component from a parts house.

LARIAT 85

Re: Starter Cable Ground Bracket/Strap

In reply to this post by Rembrant

I forgot to thank you two gentlemen for answering my question about the starter cable bracket. If it serves no other purpose except to hold the starter cable out of the way, I think I can find something to secure it.

Thanks!

scbill

Re: Starter Cable Ground Bracket/Strap

In reply to this post by LARIAT 85

The ground cable is under the starter bolt on my 83 300.

1983 F100 XL 300, 6 cyl, aod, long bed
1961 E100 pickup, 289,C4