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  •  » Engine ground

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    9/12/2020 8:49 AM  #1

    1fststang
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    Engine ground

    Installing my battery ground today in the 67 fastback with Dart Shp block. 427w and i have a threaded boss near front of engine on side and another on block near starter.

    Looks like 3/8' 16 thread but interesting these are not tapped very deep.  Smallest 3/8' bold i can find is 3/4" and that bottoms out before tightening against the ground.  Anybody else run in to this with the dart block?

    i guess i could cut the head off of the bolt and install as a stud and tighten a nut and washer down on to the stud.

    Just seems odd that they wouldn't tap them a little deeper.
     

     

    9/12/2020 9:23 AM  #2

    Bolted to Floor
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    Re: Engine ground

    There could be water passages hiding behind it. I would proceed using a stud, nut, and star washer.

    John  -- 67 Mustang Coupe 390 5 speed
     

    9/12/2020 9:31 AM  #3

    6sally6
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    Re: Engine ground

    Bolted to Floor wrote:

    There could be water passages hiding behind it. I would proceed using a stud, nut, and star washer.

     
    either ^^^that or a stack of washers under the bolt head.  (Wouldn' t look too pro IMHO)
    Why not use a cut off wheel and just shorten the bolt to work? I have several ground points on my 66.
    One thang you can't have too many of...........grounds.
    6sally6

    Get busy Liv'in or get busy Die'n....Host of the 2020 Bash at the Beach/The only Bash that got cancelled  )8
     

    9/12/2020 10:48 AM  #4

    1fststang
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    Re: Engine ground

    i could grind the bolt shorter but then i won't have a ton of threads in to the block and have to make sure cable tightens before bolt bottoms out.

    If i use a stud i can thread til it bottoms out and use the nut to tighten cable down.

    Not to decide use the boss near the starter or the one near front of block.

       •Thread Starter
     

    9/12/2020 11:58 AM  #5

    Raymond_B
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    Re: Engine ground

    1fststang wrote:

    Installing my battery ground today in the 67 fastback with Dart Shp block. 427w and i have a threaded boss near front of engine on side and another on block near starter.

    Looks like 3/8' 16 thread but interesting these are not tapped very deep.  Smallest 3/8' bold i can find is 3/4" and that bottoms out before tightening against the ground.  Anybody else run in to this with the dart block?

    i guess i could cut the head off of the bolt and install as a stud and tighten a nut and washer down on to the stud.

    Just seems odd that they wouldn't tap them a little deeper.
     

    Are you talking about the bolt hole at the pass side front of the engine? I also have a Dart block 427w and the bolt boss is plenty deep. I have all of my main grounds going to the circled area.

     

    9/12/2020 4:04 PM  #6

    TKOPerformance
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    Re: Engine ground

    Bolted to Floor wrote:

    There could be water passages hiding behind it. I would proceed using a stud, nut, and star washer.

    This is the best solution.  This way you can stack ant ground onto the stud and then put the nut on it.  In the confines of the engine bay getting a bolt started in that location can be a pain.  A stud would be much easier. 
     

     

    9/12/2020 7:07 PM  #7

    HudginJ3
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    Re: Engine ground

    On the cars I have had, 289, 302, 351's the ground stud is a stud with a nut in the middle of it. It's  an all in one piece unit with a short stud on one side and a long one on the other. It has been in the front on the side of the block below the alternator.

    70, ragtop 351W/416 stroker Edel Performer heads w pro flow 4, Comp roller 35-421-8. T5
     

    9/13/2020 6:53 AM  #8

    1fststang
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    Re: Engine ground

    Raymond,I believe the location you show is currently used for a mounting location for support for ac compressor.  I am running a March Serpentine belt set up on mine.  

       •Thread Starter
     

    9/13/2020 7:32 AM  #9

    Chaplin
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    Re: Engine ground

    I have a SHP block and noticed the same thing.  I used a short bolt with a thick lock washer and it seems to work with no issue.

     

    9/13/2020 8:31 AM  #10

    Raymond_B
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    Re: Engine ground

    1fststang wrote:

    Raymond,I believe the location you show is currently used for a mounting location for support for ac compressor.  I am running a March Serpentine belt set up on mine.  

    So it uses the boss where I have the stud coming out? Just making sure we're talking about the same thing and not the item right above the stud.
     

     

    9/13/2020 12:58 PM  #11

    Bolted to Floor
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    Re: Engine ground

    I had another thought!!! Yes......it can be dangerous!!

    You said the 3/4” bolt bottomed out.... did you measure how deep the hole is with something like 1/4” shank Phillips head screwdriver? Could they have skipped a step during tapping? Meaning a starter tap to get threads started then they didn’t finish up with a bottom tap taking the threads to the full depth possible. Just a thought.

    John  -- 67 Mustang Coupe 390 5 speed
     

    9/13/2020 2:52 PM  #12

    HudginJ3
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    Re: Engine ground



    I believe this is the factory location on the few that I have worked on

    70, ragtop 351W/416 stroker Edel Performer heads w pro flow 4, Comp roller 35-421-8. T5
     

    9/13/2020 4:25 PM  #13

    Raymond_B
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    Re: Engine ground

    Yes, exactly and that’s where the Dart block has it too and where I have the stud mounted in the pic above.

     

    9/13/2020 4:39 PM  #14

    HudginJ3
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    Re: Engine ground

    That stud is one piece. (If you want to call it that) The side that goes into the block is real short. A nut won't cover all the threads if installed backwards.

    70, ragtop 351W/416 stroker Edel Performer heads w pro flow 4, Comp roller 35-421-8. T5
     

    9/13/2020 4:44 PM  #15

    6sally6
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    Re: Engine ground

    Doesn't REALLY have to be a 'designated grounding stud' ya'know. Shoot.......any available bolt on the engine with the paint removed can give you a solid ground.
    ex.......water pump bolt....intake bolt.......tranny bolt.....any and all bolts so long as the paint is removed.
    No need to make a problem where there is none.
    Any discreet location with OUT paint will work.
    6sal6

    Get busy Liv'in or get busy Die'n....Host of the 2020 Bash at the Beach/The only Bash that got cancelled  )8
     

    9/13/2020 4:48 PM  #16

    Raymond_B
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    Re: Engine ground

    6sally6 wrote:

    Doesn't REALLY have to be a 'designated grounding stud' ya'know. Shoot.......any available bolt on the engine with the paint removed can give you a solid ground.
    ex.......water pump bolt....intake bolt.......tranny bolt.....any and all bolts so long as the paint is removed.
    No need to make a problem where there is none.
    Any discreet location with OUT paint will work.
    6sal6

    Well sure, but generally that area is not used and close to the battery. I think the question was more around the hole not seeming to be prepped. I was just passing on that I have the same block and it works with a stud.

     

    9/13/2020 4:53 PM  #17

    HudginJ3
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    Re: Engine ground



    I just found this pic. It says it's for a 66 six cylinder, but I've seen them in a lot of other Fords as well

    70, ragtop 351W/416 stroker Edel Performer heads w pro flow 4, Comp roller 35-421-8. T5
     

     

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