Grounding Strap Effect

[billschroeder5842]

I put a grounding strap on my '69 last night. I attached it from the rear passenger side intake manifold bolt to the lower bolt on the firewall voltage regulator.

I noticed now that the temp gauge is reading about 5-10 degrees higher and the oil pressure shows about 10 psi higher. My thought is that makes sense as the temp and oil sensors on the engine are grounded and that "improving" the grounding would make a "stronger" connection.

1) Is my assessment correct?
2) Is there anything else that I should look for or expect with the additional grounding?

Thanks!

[maxwellwedge]

It sounds like you made the ground closer to "good" than it was already.

Here is where the factory put it.

[BigBlockSam]

when i built my 39 coupe . every time i put the blinker on the engine would stop running . i put a good engine ground on it and the problem was fixed 

[nvrbdn]

grounding is everything on these old cars.my buddy has a 67 mustang that the turn signal light in the dash stayed on all the time. we tightened the bolts on the voltage regulator and the light went out.

[Rolling_Thunder]

yep - grounding it everything - My 68 wouldnt even start because i forgot a ground fron the batt to the chassis   

[billschroeder5842]

Thanks--any where else I should look to add a ground? Sort of a "preventative grounding maitenance?"

[471_Magnum]

Steering column ground is one that gets neglected.

Obviously, in a 40+ year old car, electrical connects are ALL suspect.

[J-440]

 Since our cars are unibodies, we only need 2 grounds instead of 3 like GM and Ford right?  1 from the engine to chassis and 1 from battery to chassis (battery in trunk).  I put a 3rd from the firewall to the frame as well...just in case.

[bakerhillpins]

Thanks--any where else I should look to add a ground? Sort of a "preventative grounding maitenance?"

Not sure that you should just keep adding new ones but I would suggest preventative maintenance. It would be better to clean and validate all the original grounds. Dirty grounds give more resistance which leaves less voltage for your various electrical bits to operate. Less voltage means more current to provide for their power requirements. More current tends to heat up the marginal connections and make them worse starting a viscous cycle.

Good luck   

[A383Wing]

I had the ground strap (engine to firewall) break on my 66 Charger a few years ago...it actually broke when I lifted up the motor to change motor mount I think...anyway..I did not know it was broke..every time I stepped on the brake, the fuel, oil, & water temp gauges in the dash started climbing to full marks....when I released the brake, they went to normal...

it's just one of my meant electrical experiences in my first gen Chargers

Bryan (some here know what I'm talking about)