Here's what the engine compartment looked like when I got the car. The red wire on the right by the fender tag is the battery cable grounding to the chassis. I put that wire there myself because the car didn't have a battery when I got it and I wasn't sure where the ground should go. There was already a hole there, and it was convenient. I just found a bolt that would fit the hole, and away I went. Many years later I learned that hole was for the AC line clip. The AC lines, compressor, and condenser had already been removed from my car when I got it.

Tav

After getting that original 318 running (which took some work) I found it burnt through over a quart of oil in 12 miles. Someone gave me a good 360 and I swapped it into the car. This was almost 10 years ago now. The poor quality Sublime paint job over the original EF8 was exceptionally poor in the engine compartment where they had difficulty masking, so while I had the engine out I cleaned it up and rattle canned it black. (I don't think I'd do that again, but at the time it made sense.)

The engine harness that was on the 318 engine had an old Year One tag on it, but I didn't find anything like that on the headlight harness, so I'm not sure if the headlight harness is original or not. I still have it, and could take another look if it would help.

I believe the headlight ground can be seen in this picture of the engine install next to the AC line clip on the radiator support. This hole has stretched metal on the underside, not like a factory hole. Anybody seen headlights grounded like this before?

Tav

So your left to decide if you make a square hole & duplicate what every other 70 ebody had or.....

Is the radiator yoke original with the body vin? Gotta wonder if that panel got swapped.. I know 73-74 ebodies had differences in the inner fenders, don't know about that panel... It's good your tracking this all down now, it would be a bummer to have to go back later... I trial fit everything multiple times so I won't have problems.. Lots of guys don't & later wish they had...

I definitely agree on the trial fitting. The panel is original to the car, body numbers stamped on it match cowl, fender tag, 318 engine, 904 trans, VIN, & title. Door sticker is missing in action.

I'm seriously considering welding a square nut in there, but maybe someone will yet chime in with some info about very early build cars & ground wires?

Tav

Actually, I believe it was called a pierce nut.
Same style nut used for the steering column to firewall mounting. I don't think it was ever actually welded in, but I could be wrong.
My former challenger has it with a Dec 12 1969 SBD

That's a nice picture Bill. Any idea where I can buy some of those? It's getting tougher to find ones with good threads in the junkyard I've been visiting.

Tav

On my 4 70's 3 have the square nut and 1 doesn't. The one w/o has VIN ending in 09553 and was built in 9-69 I not sure what the SPD is....I do have the fender tag...Its the car with a roof in my sig.

Thanks, That's Great news! It seems to confirm that the early cars didn't get the nut. My VIN is 09467 with an August 26 1969 SPD. Your car's not too far after that, So if it's a September car, I bet it's very early September.

Now, the big question... How is the ground hooked up on your car if it doesn't have the square nut?

Tav

bolt and a nut thru a round hole.

And as far as you know, that's the way it was from the factory?

Is it this round hole labeled Wiring Ground in this picture, or a different round hole?

What is the bolt & nut like? regular body bolt with washer? Nut with encapsulated washer? Any star washers to bite into the metal?

Sorry for all the questions, but I'd like to get this right on my car.
Thanks for your time!
Tav

As far as I know this is original (except for the obvious repair), the overall car is very unmolested.

Thats Cool! Learned something new...

Many Many Thanks!

Tav

Just a note to add to the confusion, my convert is an even earlir car SPD 823 VIN 1074xx and it HAS the square nut for the ground....What I'm thinking is that if guy on the core support making line left off the square nut that they just used the next avail hole....

my cuda 222665 witch im not certain when its built,has the square hole with welded or insert nut.im guessing(just guessing)late dec 69.

The "pilot" '70 e-body pics that have been floating around show a engine ground strap on the back of the engine similar/same as '69 b-bodies. I'll see if I can locate some.

Tav, check your firewall for an extra hole.

Thanks Dan, That's pretty cool! I was hoping you'd chime in.

I just went out and checked all over inside and out where the picture shows,... no extra hole. Oh well.

I don't see a headlight ground on that pilot car.

Got any other pics/info that might have some early build ground wire examples?

Tav