how imprtant is the engine ground strap

[onebadmopar]

ok im gonna ask a dumb question but is the engine ground strap absolutley needed i dont have one on it right now and wondering what does it do exactly i mean isnt the engine already grounded by other components of the engine?

[Ghoste]

It is grounded through other components, yes, but it takes the "long" way to get there.  You will be MUCH MUCH better off to use a strap from the engine to the firewall.  Some of the things the engineers did from the factory were done for a reason you know. 

[Winged 1]

 
Yup it's needed. If you want to get by till you get one, just use a hunk of braided wire and crimp on a couple of eyes. Wa-la good to go...
Eric

[onebadmopar]

is it possible it could mess my iginiton up if the engine isnt grounded right we are running hot wich seems to be pointing it to be lean and 2 suggestions was carb and ignition

[Ghoste]

It could mess up your ignition but the symptom would more likely show up as a weak spark or misfire.  Put the ground on there because you need it but you'll still have to keep searching for your hot issue.

[onebadmopar]

we have a parts truck in yard 99 dakota i robbed the strap off of it insulated wire with to circles on it already put it on 

[NMike]

how important is the throttle cable to you? that is a wonderful conductor when it is missing. until it melts off.

[1969chargerrtse]

Hate to be the bad boy here, but I ran many cars without fire wall ground straps.  Most likely there is a true need for it, but many things were done or added that can be removed and things are fine.  I don't think thats your problem at this time.   The starter starts the car under many amps and thats grounded to the block so the block must be well grounded.    I would think.

[Ghoste]

It is, but it's just like the bulkhead connector is good connection so why bother ever cleaning it.  The ground strap to the firewall certainly isn't going to help with the overheating but it comes up as an aside to that.
Getting by without one isn't an indication that it isn't needed, it only shows that it can be done (that doesn't make sense but I think you know what I'm trying to say, right?).  Anything that helps the electrical system of the car operate better is a good thing IMO.

[BROCK]

Typically the battery negative goes strait to the engine.  But what about the rest of your electrics?  Either there is a smaller wire
coming off the battery negative that goes to the body or....  I still like a ground strap mysef.

But, the real issue here is getting your car to run cool!  What engine?  What mods?  What radiator?  etc etc......

[onebadmopar]

well after carefully wATCHING the gauges it appears it may not be running so hot as we thought when i get on the gas steady the temp imediatley goes up but so does the volt gaugei let off and the volt gauge comes down and so does the temp their not factory gauges their both electric after markets so i posted a thread in the elctronic section asking if voltage reg might be doing this since i have the mechanical style with the elctronic ignition i also wonder of that could be gibing my ignition some funky elctric issue,s wich would explain slight stumble we  have ugg arnt old cars great i still think it might be running a tad hot but im running a straight 5 blade fan with no shroud so thats a simple fix

[onebadmopar]

the motor is a bone stock 383 bored 30 over with an edelbrock 750 carb performer intake hedman headers brand new everything radiator, all hoses .water pump everything under hood is  brand spanking new maybe 50 miles on it now