ground wire

[The FNG]

Where does the ground wire by the driver's side headlight go? Mine is black and yellow and is just connected to the body. I was thinking alternator, but???? last thing before I try starting her up!

[95legwagon]

it goes to the body and if its connected to the body already then the other end goes to the neg. side of the battery

[El Presidente]

IIRC it goes to the drivers side valve cover

[The FNG]

Does it make a difference if it is connected to the battery or the valve cover? If not then ok! otherwise, it is already connected to the body.

[95legwagon]

i would do the big 3.... it helps with charging and grounds.

 

1. connect 8 gauge wire from neg battery term. to body

2. connect 8 gauge wire from body to engine block (the closer to the alternator mount the better)

3. connect FUSED 8 gauge wire from alternator charging post straight to pos. battery. ( when i say fused i mean whatever your alt can put out in amps go like 5-10 amps fuse rating above that) you dont hafta run a fuse if you dont want to but i would.... (even though i dont) lmao

 

edit: if you dont follow what im saying just google "the big 3"

[man on the moon]

Mine is connected to the top of the head (cam tower? I forget), under the alternator. I just piggybacked it into the little bracket holding the pipe for the top radiator hose to the motor. Body might be better if you have a place to put it.

[eulogious]

i would do the big 3.... it helps with charging and grounds.

 

1. connect 8 gauge wire from neg battery term. to body

2. connect 8 gauge wire from body to engine block (the closer to the alternator mount the better)

3. connect FUSED 8 gauge wire from alternator charging post straight to pos. battery. ( when i say fused i mean whatever your alt can put out in amps go like 5-10 amps fuse rating above that) you dont hafta run a fuse if you dont want to but i would.... (even though i dont) lmao

 

edit: if you dont follow what im saying just google "the big 3"

 

8 gauge is a little weak. I would use 4 awg at a minimum. The price isn't that much more, and it will carry the load better. Also, (this is debatable but its what I do and I have no issues, and you mention as well), you don't need the wire fused from the alt to the battery, as long as the run of wire is less than 18". This is the rule in high powered stereo drags where guys will pull HUNDREDS of amps during competitions, and they don't fuse any wires when they do the big three. I myself have a stereo installed that will pull 100amps RMS at full bore and I used 0awg for all my wiring, including the big three, and have no fuse on the wire from the alt to the batt, and I have had no issues for 2 years now. I mention this just to save on cash, since you don't really need the fuse :-)

 

Now with that being said, fusing won't hurt anything either, but it's not really "needed" to be safe. I just didn't want to spend another $50 on a fuse holder for my 0awg wire when it wasn't needed.

 

I would recommend doing the bigger three as well, since the charging system just straight up sucks in the older soobs, so any help you can give it the better. By adding more wire, you reduce the resistance to the battery, therefore improving charging and all that goes with it. You might not get that noticeable of a difference, but it will help.

 

To answer the OP's question, you can ground it anywhere you want. Either to the motor or the body. The motor is grounded through the starter motor directly to the battery, and the body is grounded directly to the battery through several areas, so you will get the same effect either way. If you put it to the body, use some sand paper to clean away the paint/rust of the connection before you ground it so you get a good connection.

 

HTH!

[95legwagon]

8 gauge is a little weak. I would use 4 awg at a minimum. The price isn't that much more, and it will carry the load better. Also, (this is debatable but its what I do and I have no issues, and you mention as well), you don't need the wire fused from the alt to the battery, as long as the run of wire is less than 18". This is the rule in high powered stereo drags where guys will pull HUNDREDS of amps during competitions, and they don't fuse any wires when they do the big three. I myself have a stereo installed that will pull 100amps RMS at full bore and I used 0awg for all my wiring, including the big three, and have no fuse on the wire from the alt to the batt, and I have had no issues for 2 years now. I mention this just to save on cash, since you don't really need the fuse :-)

 

Now with that being said, fusing won't hurt anything either, but it's not really "needed" to be safe. I just didn't want to spend another $50 on a fuse holder for my 0awg wire when it wasn't needed.

 

 

 

 

I would recommend doing the bigger three as well, since the charging system just straight up sucks in the older soobs, so any help you can give it the better. By adding more wire, you reduce the resistance to the battery, therefore improving charging and all that goes with it. You might not get that noticeable of a difference, but it will help.

 

To answer the OP's question, you can ground it anywhere you want. Either to the motor or the body. The motor is grounded through the starter motor directly to the battery, and the body is grounded directly to the battery through several areas, so you will get the same effect either way. If you put it to the body, use some sand paper to clean away the paint/rust of the connection before you ground it so you get a good connection.

 

HTH!

 

i agree 100% but on a stock everything soob he doesnt REALLY need more than 8 awg. i am into car audio too lol i want to eventually wall off my soob with 4 15's ..... but anyways yes you are completely correct.

 

-jarrid