Engine earth lead

[davefiddes]

I've hunted through the build manual, build CD and pretty much all of the websites but I can't find a picture of the engine earth lead. The lead I have is too short to reach the earth point(s) in the corner of the engine bay next to the fuel tanks which seemed the most obvious place.... Can anyone advise as to the best place to route it?

[ultimaandy]

Put mine between the gearbox side of the engine and the chasis @ the drivers side.
I had to make my own point on the chasis to attach to.

[jschwartz]

I put a rivnut into the chassis adjacent to the rear of the cylinder head. Went from the tapped hole in the head to the chassis.

[davefiddes]

Thanks for the help guys!

[J-K]

If you use a rivnut make sure it is secure other wise you may end up earthing your engine through your throttle cable and one or two other bits, not recommended. I bolted my cable to the N/S bracket (which is used for tie wrapping your brake pipes to. The other side of the cable on the adaptor plate.

John

[Alan 2]

I've just removed the gearbox, drive shafts and various other ancillary bits and pieces from my car to sort out a clutch problem. When I put it all back, I couldn't understand why the starter motor wouldn't turn the engine over. I double checked everything and could hear the solenoid operating but the starter pinion wouldn't engage with the flywheel. Obviously a "duff" starter motor! Went and had a cup of tea and then saw the main earth lead lying under the car. Two minutes later and all was well.

The point made earlier about earthing the engine through a rivnut connection is a good one in that rivnuts can work loose and you could end up with some very odd symptoms. My earth lead runs from one of the gearbox housing bolts to the rear towing eye which is bolted through the chassis via four M10's.

[mkoch1]

speaking of tow hooks, does the factory sell them? If not where can I get some and where on the frame is a good place to mount them.

mark

[steve_D]

The factory do show tow hooks front and rear so I assume they sell them.
You could make your own. Ask the factory for a copy of the latest CD as there are pictures on it which will show where and how they are fitted.
Steve

[BobM]

I asked the factory about this no more than 3 or 4 weeks ago while I was doing my ally panels. I was told they don't do them any more, mainly because it needed quite a bit of chopping of bodywork I think.

I can't find any mention/pics of tow eyes on my build CD.

It's something I'm still a bit concerned about particularly for trackdays.

[Steve_D]

The build manual part of the CD does not refer to the towhooks but pictures are in the folder 'EXTRA' on my copy of the CD. Also in the same folder are pictures of the grill fitting. If you look at those you can see the cutouts for the hooks to clear as the body is opened.
Steve

[BobM]

Steve_D said:

The build manual part of the CD does not refer to the towhooks but pictures are in the folder 'EXTRA' on my copy of the CD.

Ah. Thought I didn't have this but found it within the 'photos' folder. Looks like it should be fairly easy to fabricate and retrofit these.