Engine gorund strap. Originally fitted?

as far as I know, now ground strap originally
but you should fit one....

 

I have tried to find out in the past if this was an original item and couldn't see any reference to one.
My car has a tiny strap from the cam cover to the bracket on the chassis, but I am sure it does nothing as there are plenty of good grounds already.

 

I've noticed about 1" wide braided flat ground straps on the LH front of the engine to firewall (oil vapor separator mounting bolt I think) on a few L-series cars.
If not original, I'm wondering if these were added later by a dealer or somebody circulated a "fix" possibly for starter issues?

I'm sure there are many paths to ground from the engine, but most are isolated by rubber (exhaust, driveshafts, engine mounts, hoses) so the best grounds are probably through the gearshift mechanism and hand-brake, clutch and accelerator cables in the absence of a strap!

 

This is how my engine on #504 was grounded (LH side of engine, I'm sorry that I don't have any pictures of the other end of the strap ):

Regards

Peter
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

This is, I believe, the original strap from the factory and is certainly on my E-series

 

Daytona's had a similar one/two. I had a couple of new identical ones made.

A couple of photos of the old one and the new one on top of the engine waiting to be fitted.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Both of our Dino's have a ground strap between the clutch return spring mount and the chassis. As both cars had not been apart when we got them I can only assume that the position is correct

 

I found this ground strap on my L-series #01100 too....
mounted to the frame with the nut holding the vapour separator...
despite not listed anywhere, it looks factory fitted...
so I would correct my earlier post...

 

Matthias - same on 01296

Pietro

 

My #2840 Euro car has it here, looks original, and it has been there since 1987 when I got the car

 

Great, looks like there are 4 cars in the late L-series/early M-series range with this strap to the vapour separator mounting bolt.
I have only poor photos of this, could someone post a photo of the strap, where it mounts on either end and measure the length/width so I could make some?
It might also be the same as the Daytona version that Grant photographed below.

 

#06830 has an original ground strap too...
it`s difficult to measure if fitted to the engine...
approx. 18 x 200 mm / holes 8 mm
it`s shorter than the Daytona one

 

Here is the strap on 03050 being refitted during restoration to the same location it was removed from.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

that`s the correct position...
do you have the correct dimensions?

 

Not to hand but drop me an email with the info you are looking for Matthias.

 

Thanks Rob, saves some effort.

Thanks Iain, good photos.

 

If you want to picky, the Daytona one had tinned ferrels on the ends [ grey color] so i would guess it was the same on the Dino [ they look the same on Ian's photos] Mr Fiats look just copper.
Also the Daytona had holes of 8mm at 300 centers, just to compare with the Dino's.

 

Wow Ian,
another impressive cointribution!

BTW, are all the studs plated yellow cad on the engine?
TIA

 

I believe the majority are Scott but others may be more knowledgeable than I on this subject. We followed the approach of trying to reinstate the finish that was visible on any parts when they were removed during the strip down.

 

Got a couple of ground straps from Mr. Fiat and they don't have the ferrules at the ends as in his pictures. Just lightly tinned on the ends with the holes.