Grounds, body, engine and frame

[arkusvt]

Have the manual but found no info. I'm quite sure a small cable connects from starter bolt to a firewall location under battery tray. A.I. seems to suggest that the negative battery cable goes there also. My experiences with other cars have been this cable generally goes to engine Is there a 3rd cable for additional grounding? Thanks for any help.

[Barry Wolk]

The who body of the car is the negative, switches only connect devices and lights to it. In order for all the window and light to work within the body it should have a grind strap from the engine to the body. The engine is directly connected to ground and acts a connection to everything. It should have a ground strap to the body, but I've only seen two that appeared to be factory installed. If they are not used all kinds of weird things can happen electrically without it. While on the subject there is a ground wire that is poorly attached to just about every terminal block. It should be relocated to the body in a bare metal connection. One loose connection can make whole door lose power.

There is supposed to be a part number 14303 engine to dash. I think that means firewall. It sure can't hurt to add one.

[arkusvt]

I understand that the entire body is a ground, my question is should the negative battery cable ground directly to the body (firewall) or to the engine block which at that point would send the ground to the firewall via the short cable from the starter to the firewall OR doesn't it make any difference? Then there is what could be a questionable ground to the frame or lack thereof. I build hot rods and always run grounds from battery to frame, frame to engine and engine to body or any combo of above that might be convenient. If the battery ground cable was originally hooked to the engine, where was the location?

[Milsteads Garage]

I ran my negative ground to one of the starter bolts. That’s how I found and left it.

[Barry Wolk]

I understand that the entire body is a ground, my question is should the negative battery cable ground directly to the body (firewall) or to the engine block which at that point would send the ground to the firewall via the short cable from the starter to the firewall OR doesn't it make any difference? Then there is what could be a questionable ground to the frame or lack thereof. I build hot rods and always run grounds from battery to frame, frame to engine and engine to body or any combo of above that might be convenient. If the battery ground cable was originally hooked to the engine, where was the location?

You'll find that my responses here are designed to explain things to the least knowledgeable, the people that desire the most knowledge. Since you're fairly new here I have no idea how much knowledge you have. My statement didn't demean you, or your abilities.

I find most factory grounds attached to the engine on one of the bolts on the back of the block. I've seen far too many attached to a bolt on the exhaust manifold.

[arkusvt]

Barry, absolutely no offense taken. This is my 1st experience with the Continental; I am just trying to keep it as authentic as possible, not to show it but for my own satisfaction. I finally admitted to myself, not to mention my wife, that we have "aged out" of short wheelbase, straight axle roadsters for longer trips. Looking forward to comfort!