86 Fiero SE 2.8 Ground Wire Bolt (Page 1/1)
ArthurPeale JUN 18, 03:34 PM
I thought I was doing a good thing.

the ground wire that connects to the battery has a connector that was really gross. I bought a new one, because increased grounding is better. 2G vs 4G, and a connector that was shiny and new.

Started to remove the 15mm nut from the bolt - or, so I thought. It suddenly went very loose. Of course it had just sheared right off

Good news is I can now remove the old battery cable easily.

if I could see back there easily I'd do what I could to replace the bolt. Going to try and tie it somewhere else.
ArthurPeale JUN 18, 05:13 PM
decided to try and remove the whole bolt. To my surprise, it came right out.

Went to the auto parts store to source a replacement. I figured this had to be a fairly off the shelf part.

Nope. Ended up going to the hardware store and getting a bolt and nut. It'll work, but I wish I had something nearly identical to what was there. I could probably fabricate something, but it just started to rain, and I have no garage.

So...she'll sit there until I can get back to work.
theogre JUN 18, 09:23 PM
What Ground?

Small Battery Neg to frame does little and thin wire grounds w/ self taper "screw" easy. Many GM cars didn't have this wire as OE.
Big Battery Neg to Engine is mainly Return for Starter Motor that uses 120+ amps to start the car. This is Bolted to the Engine. By a normal bolt or Head Bolt w/ Stud Top and Nut.

Heavy wiring for ether won't help you.
Heavy side of battery cables are Short and Does matter...
"People" saying X size = Y amps but don't bother the Rating is for 100 to 1000 Feet.
Many have crap old cables with problems.
Many of those use Crap aftermarket parts and most of them are poorly made and side terminal battery hate them because uses lead cable end.
Worse many use "DIY" cables or ends that often have big problems.

Get ACDelco battery cables listed for Fiero.
See my Cave, Battery & Wire Service

------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

ArthurPeale JUN 21, 12:19 PM
It was the cable that goes from the negative terminal on the battery to the engine block, on the back.

I went to the parts store and they had no idea what kind of bolt it was.

I ended up buying a M10 1.5 bolt, cutting off the head, threading on a nut, and welding that to the threaded rod. Ran it into the block, put on the new battery cable, and clamped it down with a nut.

The new battery cable was a significant upgrade from the original, a 2G wire. AC Delco part 2SD40X.

TBH - this car continues to surprise me. That it ran, at all. When I first took possession, I changed the rotor and cap. The cap button had no spring, it did not press against the rotor well. Still ran.

And, now? The stud I snapped was covered in thick rust. The terminal on the stud was far from tight, there was a good 2MM of play. The terminal that attaches to the battery (which is what prompted this to begin with) was disgusting, I don't know how it passed electrons, at all. And, yet, it did.

And, she runs so much better now. Or, maybe that's just wishful thinking, but it stands to reason that with a decent ground for the first time in a very long time that there would be improvements.

Still need to do the positive cable, but that looks like it'll be a fairly decent project, might wait a bit on that.
Ogre, you seem to know what kind of stud this was - a Head Bolt w/ Stud Top ? Where do you find these? Auto parts store had no idea what I even had in my hand.
fierofool JUN 21, 01:00 PM
ArthurPeale, when I cant find automotive bolts I go to Tractor Supply, John Deere, or other farm equipment dealers. I used to include Fastenal but my local store no longer sells to the public. Wholesale accounts only.
ArthurPeale JUN 21, 02:15 PM

quote
Originally posted by fierofool:

ArthurPeale, when I cant find automotive bolts I go to Tractor Supply, John Deere, or other farm equipment dealers. I used to include Fastenal but my local store no longer sells to the public. Wholesale accounts only.



What kind of bolts are you talking about?

I get most of my hand-pick bolts from Runnings. They have a really good selection.
ArthurPeale JUN 21, 04:42 PM
Although I'm happy with my solution, I did find these, which should work - a plug-and-play solution.

https://www.gmpartsgiant.co...m-stud-11561111.html
fierofool JUN 21, 09:55 PM

quote
Originally posted by ArthurPeale:


What kind of bolts are you talking about?

I get most of my hand-pick bolts from Runnings. They have a really good selection.



Almost any kind. I've had to make visits to multiple places, but I usually find something very similar to what I need.

theogre JUN 22, 12:46 PM
Head Bolts w/ Stud Tops only come w/ some engines.

Many Dukes have 2, 1 at each end. 1 use for battery neg. "Other" head bolt is used by Vac Line to Brake Booster to attach hard section of line.
Some aftermarket Head Bolt Set have them for this reason. Others don't have any and need more bolt(s) to attach ground(s).

Also have stud top bolts for trans bell attach to engine in many cars. Fiero has 2 of those too. You likely never find them thru most aftermarket sources.

Any metric bolt will work on Fiero engines. May need a washer too.
Or can take off an existing bolt on some bracket to add big battery cable.
Never use Intake or Exhaust manifolds or bolts for them. Can cause big "rust" problems...