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Topic: ground strap - where does it go

in Forum: C3 Electrical

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ground strap - where does it go (1/10)
10/11/17 7:01am

vince vette
Former Member
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Vette(s):
1980 L82 White with doeskin interior

Joined: 1/5/2016
Posts: 72

Wandering around the engine on my '80 i saw that a braided copper ground strap (see photo) connected to the engine by one of the intake manifold bolts is just dangling loose on the other end. Does any know what it is supposed to be tied to? It can go too far so I suspect it might be intended to ensure the potential of the aluminum manifold and the iron block are kept equal to prevent electrolytic corrosion.

And as long as I'm here, does the white wire running through the cap go to the tach.

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Re: ground strap - where does it go (2/10)
10/11/17 7:13pm

Adams' Apple

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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas

Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20206

I believe the ground strap is supposed to go to the ignition shielding. It appears your car no longer has the complete shielding/cover set-up.

The wire in question is the tach filter, and yes, it does go to the tach.

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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Re: ground strap - where does it go (3/10)
10/12/17 5:50am

vince vette
Former Member
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Vette(s):
1980 L82 White with doeskin interior

Joined: 1/5/2016
Posts: 72

Right you are - all that shielding just got in the way. I took it off so long ago I forgot all about it. I never seemed to miss it. But it's in a box in the basement if my descendants or, more likely, the guy who buys it from my wife the day after my funeral, wants it. The back story - She has hated the car since our first date (1985). I let her drive it and the first time she hit the gas the car lurched off the line more than she expected and the seat slid all the way back as it wasn't locked in. Being 5' 3", she couldn't reach the pedals and was in panic mode. Since then it's been a love-hate relation - hates the car but loves me (must since i have steadfastly refused to part with it, the car, that is, well her too).

|UPDATED|10/12/2017 5:50:49 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

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As it once looked and hopefully will again

Re: ground strap - where does it go (4/10)
10/12/17 7:07pm

Adams' Apple

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Re: ground strap - where does it go (5/10)
10/13/17 8:57am

nosal1
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Dunedin, FL - USA

Vette(s):
1980 Corvette Torch Red with Gold metallic 370HP/350 CU.IN.Turbo 350 w/shift kit.Originally CA.Car with 305 CU.IN.

Joined: 3/21/2006
Posts: 262

Good Morning. I have an '80 Vette and you should have a wing nut( or a stud looking for a wing nut)on the firewall where the plastic Distributor cover was tied to the firewall.It also served as the body ground strap that was connected to the lower valve cover bolt,below the valve cover. I hope this will help..The tubular piece is exactly what Noel states filter for TACH..

Have a great day and good luck.

Sal C nosal1.

Re: ground strap - where does it go (6/10)
10/13/17 9:00am

My last reply should read "Joel",not Noel..

I already thinking Christmas..Sorry Joel....Sal C

Re: ground strap - where does it go (7/10)
10/15/17 4:19am

Redwoman
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Bellingham, MA - USA

Vette(s):
1980 loaded red on red. 68,000 original miles. Second owner. Well documented with all original paperwork. NCRS Founders Award 9/27/14. NCRS Top Flight 10/12/14.

Joined: 6/23/2014
Posts: 175

The ground wire connects to the stud with wing nut on the plastic shield cover that goes over distributor!!!

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Re: ground strap - where does it go (8/10)
10/17/17 7:04pm

vince vette
Former Member
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Vette(s):
1980 L82 White with doeskin interior

Joined: 1/5/2016
Posts: 72

Thanks everyone for the info. I dug the old shield out of the basement just to check it out. It does have a mounting stud and nut. The strap that is still in the car is still connected to a bolt in a the rocker cover. This dates my removal of the shield to after I replaced the valve seals since if it was before that I would have pulled off the ground strap. I have no intention of putting the shield back on. It's just a pain in the but and I never noticed any radio interference.

Just a related side story. As some of you may recall, I started this effort to get the car back on the road 2+ years ago. The car has not been on the road since 2004. I took it out for a couple junkets around the neighborhood over the last few weeks. On the last one the bad news is that it stalled and wouldn't restart. The good news is it did this within 50 yards of my driveway instead of out on the main road. It's registered with plates and insured, but the 2004 inspection sticker is still there - can't really drive it to an inspection station until I know I'll actually get there. I would have surely had some 'splainin' to do had I stalled out on the main drag and a cop showed up while I waited for a tow.

How is this related to the distributor? The fault was a blown fuse in an Accel 300+ multispark ignition module. Replaced the fuse and it blew within a second of the car starting. I couldn't find any shorts in any of the circuits involved, so I disconnected the module and wired back as it was originally with the HEI. Car started and ran, no problem. Tried the 300+ again and it blew a fuse. Back to the HEI and all is well. So the 300+ gave up the ghost - admittedly after 17 yrs but really only about 4 and less than 5000 miles. So now I'm working to get Accel or MSD or Holley (since they're all one company) to own up to the lifetime warranty on the unit. They are not happy about it. We'll see if I win.

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As it once looked and hopefully will again

Re: ground strap - where does it go (9/10)
10/17/17 7:45pm

Vince Vette, I have several of those boxes in my garage, from friends etc."blown of course",most of time they are MSD 6Al or whatever there called..They apparently get hot enough to melt the epoxy and short out ( taken many apart), poof goes $235-$300 in a second. If one want's additional voltage then buy a 60,000- 65,000 volt coil and replace the stock coil in your existing HEI and you will have a better performance Vette.I wish you luck and stay with the OEM HEI and keep cruising... NOSAL Sal C

Re: ground strap - where does it go (10/10)
10/18/17 8:25am

vince vette
Former Member
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Vette(s):
1980 L82 White with doeskin interior

Joined: 1/5/2016
Posts: 72

The fact is that even if I win I have no plans to put whatever they send me back in the car. I'll likely just sell it at a highly discounted price. Given just a 1 yr warranty and forcing you to deal with the seller instead of them gives me no faith in what they sell.

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As it once looked and hopefully will again

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