68 BBC Battery to Engine Ground Wire Location

[flyingskibiker]

Hi,

Where and how does the main battery ground cable attach to the engine? 

The AIM only lists "V8" when mentioned in UPC 12 and C60.  No specific mention/picture in the L34, L35, and L78 UPCs...  I have a few pictures saved of restorations and member's cars.  But no good, in focus pictures of the cable.  Most do go to the water pump...  I would assume that since V8 is stated, that BBC does actually go on the water pump. 

If that is correct, is the cable and star washer added under the mounting bolt?  Or was a stud and nut type set up used like on the alt. bracket on the other side?

Someone else started a thread on TC on the same subject.  But no answers as of yet...

Thanks!
Chris B.

[Mike S]

 If the 68 BB uses the same short pump as the 67 then the cable goes to the top passenger side pump stud followed by the star washer followed by the nut.
That is how is it on my original and also restored 67  L35 BB.

Mike

[bertfam]

Chris, look at UPC L34 sheet A2.5 and you'll see under "UPC 12 Electrical" that the "12A Battery and Leads" has a circle (half black/half white) which indicates "Assembles same as production". It's the same for the L35 engine.

However, you'll see there's no such note for the L78, but looking at the list, a lot of the items stipulate "Assembles same as RPO L35" so you can ususally go by that.

In the AIM, if it's not specificly mentioned in the RPO section you're looking at that it's different, it's generally going to be the same as the producton engines.

Ed

[Mike S]

If the 68 BB uses the same short pump as the 67 then the cable goes to the top passenger side pump stud followed by the star washer followed by the nut.
That is how is it on my original and also restored 67  L35 BB.

Mike

Sorry...I'm correcting my own reply. I checked and found the order is star washer, cable eye and then nut. Is that what '68 BB uses too?

Mike

[bertfam]

I checked and found the order is star washer, cable eye and then nut. Is that what '68 BB uses too?

Yep. That's the order.

Ed

[flyingskibiker]

OK.  Thanks guys.  That is what we all thought.  But the BB water pump "kits" only have one stud/washer/nut.  That is for the alt. bracket, correct?  Or is the stud used for the ground and a normal bolt for the alt. bracket?  Or two studs???

[Steve68]

Chris, I am the original owner of my car.  No restoration.  I will double check but I think the battery ground on my L78 is on the bottom front of the block and not attached to the water pump.

Steve

[Mike S]

OK.  Thanks guys.  That is what we all thought.  But the BB water pump "kits" only have one stud/washer/nut.  That is for the alt. bracket, correct?  Or is the stud used for the ground and a normal bolt for the alt. bracket?  Or two studs???

My 67 L35's have a stud for the alternator bracket and one plated stud for the battery.

Mike

[bertfam]

Yeah, it's just one more example of the repop houses getting it wrong. There should be two studs and two bolts.

One stud at the upper (driver side) water pump mount for the alternator and AIR pump braces, one stud at the upper (passenger side) water pump mount for the battery ground cable, and two bolts for the lower water pump mounting.

Ed

[flyingskibiker]

Thanks everyone!!!  I'm going ahead and reposting this info on the TC thread so the OP over there knows what is up.

[Steve68]

Pictures of my original setup.  68 RS/SS L78.

First is driver side.  Note bottom bolt and top stud on water pump.
Second is passenger side.  Note bolt on top and bottom.
Third is negative wire from battery attached to block just above the fuel pump.
Forth is scan of KD1 A1.  See note for item number 1.

Steve

[Steve68]

#2

[Steve68]

#3

[Steve68]

#4

[169INDY]

Here is a road test photo from 1968.
Note neg cable routing.

Jim