Engine grounding strap?

[Benny]

Do most people run a grounding strap to their engine? Was there originally one installed?

If so, what is the most convenient/effective location for one?

[minimans]

Don't know about late cars but early ones had the ground strap from the clutch housing bolt nearest the lower starter mount bolt to the inner wing. Their should be a captive nut opposite where it bolts to the clutch housing.
Do you need a ground strap? Yes! your throttle and choke cable will thank you!! they get very hot when used as the main ground when starting......................

[pad4]

You can never have enough grounding straps

always run 2 good ones on my minis

Pad

[ianh1968]

I am with minimans on this one, somewhere between the clutch housing
and the inner wing, although I've never had the captive nut...

I had a car once that had the strap paralleled across the engine
steady tie-bar on the heater tap end. I am sure it was the "auto",
and it made me cringe - first opportunity, I changed it.
Surely it should be close to the starter, anyway?

What ever you do, be sure to clean off all paint and/or rust, and
maybe consider using a brass manifold nut to hold it on if you use
a bolt.

Just remember to undo it before you try to crane the engine out,
particularly if you have it somewhere where it is not clearly visible...

Most/all leads just have the terminals crimped on - I ALWAYS get
the soldering iron out and finish the job properly. They can, and do
oxidise and I once had a battery explode in the boot because of this...
There ended up being a bad connection between the braiding and
the terminal: A tiny spark and an accumulation of hydrogen = BOOM!

[Benny]

Thanks guys. I don't remember a captive nut either, but I have some bulk cable and terminals left over from when I ran the new battery cables, so I can make up a connection to the inner fender.

[Benny]

I stand corrected, there IS a captive nut, right near the bottom of the RH I net fender. I made up a heavy ground strap tonight with soldered connections....should work well.

Thanks again.

[nick rogers]

The engine earth is essential. Without it the circuit will be completed through whatever earth connection there is. This is usually the throttle cable and/or choke cable. The starter motor can draw 300 amps for a short time and this will cause these thin wires to glow red. Make sure your engine earth is in good condition.