Core Ground Wire

[mikester]

While I was cleaning my "extra parts" tub out I found a bag labled wagon heater core. Small copper bracket and a thin ground wire. This might have been the original one from the wagon but Ive picked up smuch crap over the past few years I probably just used another one when I reassembled the box.
My question is why is the bracket and core grounded ? I guess I didnt ground the one I have in the box now. The blower motor is grounded already. Will this be an issue ?

 

[blk7gxn]

Why is there a ground strap on the heater core?

I'm in process of cleaning up and refurbing my 78 Salons heater box assembly. I'm replacing the heater core with a new one. I don't understand why there is a ground strap from the heater core to the firewall. Does it need to be there? I smoothed my firewall and really don't want a ground strap...

gbodyforum.com

 

[Texas82GP]

The bracket wouldn't fit the aftermarket heater core so I left it out. I didn't like doing so and may end up regretting it. I kept it.

 

[fleming442]

e·lec·trol·y·sis
/əˌlekˈträləsəs/
noun

1. 1.
   CHEMISTRY
   chemical decomposition produced by passing an electric current through a liquid or solution containing ions.

 

[pontiacgp]

The bracket wouldn't fit the aftermarket heater core so I left it out. I didn't like doing so and may end up regretting it. I kept it.

your heater core is probably aluminum and the stock is brass so maybe the aftermarket core won't need the strap. If you are concerned you could ground one of the tubes.

 

[Texas82GP]

your heater core is probably aluminum and the stock is brass so maybe the aftermarket core won't need the strap. If you are concerned you could ground one of the tubes.

It is aluminum. I could solder a wire to a tube.🤔

 

[mikester]

My core is copper/brass. Too late to think about it. I tore into it after I read some of the replies. Screw it. Ive got an extra box seal anyway.

 

[fleming442]

And, if you don't want to see it, punch a small hole in the heater box on the interior, and ground it inside.

 

[mikester]

Thats not a big issue.
Im glad I had a new rubber seal for the box though. I tried to split it without damaging it but no such luck. It tore at almost every bolt because I used the black rope sealer in every hole when I was putting it together. I might even buy another full seal kit since the rubber block for the heater core fell apart too.
I guess it was bound to happen. I remember a thread not too long ago about not putting the insulation on the evaporator.. guess thats getting done now too. SMH

 

[69hurstolds]

Interestingly, according to one viewpoint, ground straps to your heater core is NOT recommended. The first two paragraphs of this article can make you stop and think. I tried to look up whether aluminum or brass was a worse offender for electrolysis when I ran into this point. It kind of makes sense as not all manufacturers ground their heater cores. Apparently, Ford engineers couldn't settle on grounds or not, but eventually not.

It does describe a procedure for checking your coolant voltage, however.

Repeat heater core failures and electrolysis

By MACS Technical Thinktank Repeat heater core failures are often thought of as a Ford or General Motors problem, but the best information we’ve seen indicates that the problem is cyclical among al…

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