installing wiring harness - question on grounds

[rficalora]

I'm running my wiring harness.  My harness, like most universal kits, does not have the grounds.  Do you guys recommend running ground wires to the various devices or do you ground things "locally"?

Also, how important is it to run a ground from the battery all the way to a starter bolt.  I didn't do that.  I have a short ground lead from the battery to the chassis but when reading internet articles on the above, I ran acros a couple of places that "strongly recommend" ground from battery to a starter bolt.  Ron Francis wiring says "we can't stress that enough."

[kstevusa]

Rob, on the 78 B, I ran a dedicated large gauge ground from the battery to the main ground location near the relays on the right side of the engine compartment.  suggest you  locate a main ground point somewhere in the Ford relay area.  Once this is done, you have a convenient place to connect direct to engine and later to the ECU if you decide to  go EFI.  My is grounds direct to the trans, engine,alternator, and  to the central ground at the harness (oem).  
Remember "YOU CAN'T HAVE TOO MANY GROUNDS!)
SAFETY FASTER!

[Dan B]

Hi Rob,

I agree with Kelly.  On my TR4A I have installed a heavy gauge ground directly to the starter mount.  I also have a strap that runs from the engine to the body. Overkill is good.

Dan B

[BlownMGB-V8]

On the MGB I like to run a heavy cable from the battery to the transmission tailshaft extension. You can't have a more direct connection to the starter than that. Use a cable with the smaller second lead and ground that to the chassis and you're done.

JB