Scott Mckenzie Posted June 1, 2018 Share Posted June 1, 2018 Does a `64 have a body ground strap? If so , where is it hiding? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seafoam65 Posted June 1, 2018 Share Posted June 1, 2018 All cars need a ground strap from the engine block to the firewall. On new cars, the negative battery cable has an eye in the middle of it that bolts to the body before it goes to the block, but on 60's cars a copper strap was used on all GM cars. If you can't find one on your car, somebody left it off. On my 65, there is a copper strap behind the engine going to the firewall, and also the negative battery cable has a pigtail coming out of it at the bat post that goes to one of the bolts holding the voltage regulator to the inner fender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Stoneberg Posted June 1, 2018 Share Posted June 1, 2018 On the 64 I used to have, there were a ground strap from a head bolt on each side of the engine. They went back to a bolt, or screw on the firewall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC1968Riviera Posted June 1, 2018 Share Posted June 1, 2018 You can see the ground strap on my 68 430 in the lower right corner of this picture. I thought I had a better picture showing how it's attached to the engine and firewall but I don't. Maybe someone else has a better picture? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Mckenzie Posted June 1, 2018 Author Share Posted June 1, 2018 On the firewall at the center of the trans tunnel I found a lonely 1/4 20 stud that was painted over with a generous amount of black paint .I think I have found the grounding stud . Thanks for your help fellas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1965rivgs Posted June 2, 2018 Share Posted June 2, 2018 19 hours ago, Scott Mckenzie said: On the firewall at the center of the trans tunnel I found a lonely 1/4 20 stud that was painted over with a generous amount of black paint .I think I have found the grounding stud . Thanks for your help fellas! There is no grounding stud on the firewall that I am aware of. The factory ground straps are attached at the engine to a studded head bolt and attached to the firewall with a hex head fastener. The area where the ground straps attach to the firewall is not centered on the firewall but off to the right and left of center. Tom Mooney Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Mckenzie Posted June 2, 2018 Author Share Posted June 2, 2018 Thanks,I will revisit . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Mckenzie Posted June 2, 2018 Author Share Posted June 2, 2018 Went into the shop and took a good look at the firewall , I found two fasteners with the remains of a mounting eye, one on each side. My guess is that this is where the two straps went originally. They look like some hex head sheet metal screws to me. Now i`m off to get some straps 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riviera63 Posted June 2, 2018 Share Posted June 2, 2018 3 hours ago, Scott Mckenzie said: Went into the shop and took a good look at the firewall , I found two fasteners with the remains of a mounting eye, one on each side. My guess is that this is where the two straps went originally. They look like some hex head sheet metal screws to me. Now i`m off to get some straps Hi Scott, I have been meaning to get some pictures for you and finally did it. I have a 63 but, I can't imagine they would differ too greatly. The first 2 are of the driver's side. The second 2 are of the passenger side. They both connect in the same relative spot at the rear of the engine. Where the passenger side connects on the firewall was hard to get a shot of. It goes straight back and down slightly and connects at the bottom of the flat part of the firewall just above where it begins to bend and slant back for the transmission. I hope this helps. Bill 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivman Posted June 2, 2018 Share Posted June 2, 2018 I was beginning to wonder, with all the first generation Rivs out there running and driving, if anyone was going to post pictures, great job Bill. I checked my '65 GS and found one "bolted" to the back of the head on the drivers side, with a hex head screw holding it on the firewall. I did not see one on the passenger side though? Now you have a 1963 and a 1965 GS to compare, I would bet a '64 would be somewhere close to what is pictured above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTX-SLPR Posted June 3, 2018 Share Posted June 3, 2018 No picture but my '64 had a single strap on the drivers side from the head to the firewall as well as the black wire from the battery terminal to the voltage regulator. Nothing I can remember on the passengers head. I think I got my replacement, and addon ground straps, from Napa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telriv Posted June 3, 2018 Share Posted June 3, 2018 They ALL have the ground straps in the SAME location '63-'66. 2 straps rear, using studded head bolts at the rear, 1 to voltage regulator from battery ground cable.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbinator Posted June 3, 2018 Share Posted June 3, 2018 On 6/1/2018 at 10:12 AM, Bill Stoneberg said: On the 64 I used to have, there were a ground strap from a head bolt on each side of the engine. They went back to a bolt, or screw on the firewall. Same here on my 63. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbinator Posted June 3, 2018 Share Posted June 3, 2018 20 hours ago, Rivman said: I was beginning to wonder, with all the first generation Rivs out there running and driving, if anyone was going to post pictures, great job Bill. I checked my '65 GS and found one "bolted" to the back of the head on the drivers side, with a hex head screw holding it on the firewall. I did not see one on the passenger side though? Now you have a 1963 and a 1965 GS to compare, I would bet a '64 would be somewhere close to what is pictured above. Thank you for using the red arrows on the pictures. I’m going to learn how to use those pointers. Red Riviera Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1965rivgs Posted June 4, 2018 Share Posted June 4, 2018 On 6/2/2018 at 4:58 PM, Rivman said: I was beginning to wonder, with all the first generation Rivs out there running and driving, if anyone was going to post pictures, great job Bill. I checked my '65 GS and found one "bolted" to the back of the head on the drivers side, with a hex head screw holding it on the firewall. I did not see one on the passenger side though? Now you have a 1963 and a 1965 GS to compare, I would bet a '64 would be somewhere close to what is pictured above. Hi Randy, Someone has had the heads removed from your car and put the ground straps in the wrong place. I suspect they probably dont have the head bolts in the correct places and used any attaching point available. It doesnt make a functional difference but I`m assuming this thread is based on what was original. There should be studded head bolts in the rear positions and the ground straps should be attached to the studded head bolts. Tom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivman Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 On 6/4/2018 at 5:28 AM, 1965rivgs said: Hi Randy, Someone has had the heads removed from your car and put the ground straps in the wrong place. I suspect they probably dont have the head bolts in the correct places and used any attaching point available. It doesnt make a functional difference but I`m assuming this thread is based on what was original. There should be studded head bolts in the rear positions and the ground straps should be attached to the studded head bolts. Tom I'm sure you're right Tom, I looked at my other two '65s and found them mounted just like Bill's are. I guess I should have posted them instead of the one I did, but I did not think about the originality thing as much as posting that they were there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 I bought a couple of new ground straps for my '64 but the only ones that I could find did not have an eyelet on them that was large enough in diameter to go over the head bolt stud. What have you found out there that works? Anyone? Thanks, Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTX-SLPR Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 You can use a step bit to drill out thin stuff like the ends of grounding straps or eye terminals to fit over larger studs if needed. I started it at the point he talks about and shows enlarging the hole on an adel clamp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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