LARIAT 85 Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rembrant Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1986F150Six Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve83 Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 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: https://supermotors.net/getfile/883860/thumbnail/starterwiringold.jpg https://supermotors.net/getfile/1035425/thumbnail/g103v8.jpg https://supermotors.net/getfile/1057708/thumbnail/blockgrounds9358.jpg https://supermotors.net/getfile/1142306/thumbnail/20181017_172050.jpg https://supermotors.net/getfile/770502/thumbnail/02groundframe.jpg https://supermotors.net/getfile/932347/thumbnail/frameground49.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
85lebaront2 Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 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. 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rembrant Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dyn Blin Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 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? Thread Creep Warning... Rembrant, is that a Gen 1 alternator harness in your pic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rembrant Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LARIAT 85 Posted January 24, 2019 Author Share Posted January 24, 2019 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. I still have a Gen 1 Alternator in Lucille as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dyn Blin Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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