The Big 3

[bank2me]

Anyone know were they sell the big 3 engine grounds? I've seen the post about changing the big 3. I would like to upgrade for my car to bigger grounds. There is some on ebay, but not too big on getting much on there. :pc:

[Bass Man]

I don't know about a kit, but you can get welding lead wire for pretty cheap and ends are about $3 each. Just make your own!

[bank2me]

Yea I dont have a welder though. I suppose soldering would work too.

[Pico]

you have to http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v337/picopop/Icons/Search.gif
But here ya go 3G ground kit DIY (http://www.3geez.com/forum/showthread.php?t=55980)
it's listed in the How To section of the forum

[knarg]

havent seen that before, thanks

[russiankid]

When one of my grounds failed or was about to fail, I ran a 4gauge wire instead and my idle smoothed out.

[Bass Man]

No... I meant you can buy OLD welding leads for cheap and cut them up to use for the wire.

DO NOT just "crimp" the ends on. Spend some extra time and do it right with solder.

[2oodoor]

contrary to speculation this is a viable mod on a fuel injected car, useless on a carbed car

[turabaka]

^^ I wouldn't say that. I upgraded the grounds on my car, and it starts much easier now.

[Bass Man]

It should start faster because there will be less amperage draw from the starter and more can go to your coil so you have spark RIGHT THEN.

Amperage draw?? Maybe just voltage drop.

[MessyHonda]

yeah the spark from the spark plug gets grounded by the engine ...so the better the ground to the engine the better the spark will be...i just updated 3 grounds on my car with 8 guage wire...valve cover to body, alternator bracket to body and from the negative post on the batt to the body....my car still dims when i have idle surge...but other than that its alright.

[AccordB20A]

a meter of 4 gauge cable and some terminals for 60c each from an auto parts place did mint and it works and looks a treat.

[bank2me]

So maybe I will switch to 4 guage then. Has anyone actually noticed a difference in any of the sections like starting, torque and what not?

[bank2me]

you have to http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v337/picopop/Icons/Search.gif
But here ya go 3G ground kit DIY (http://www.3geez.com/forum/showthread.php?t=55980)
it's listed in the How To section of the forum

Did that guy put all of those wires in or just the three?

[2oodoor]

yeah the spark from the spark plug gets grounded by the engine ...so the better the ground to the engine the better the spark will be...i just updated 3 grounds on my car with 8 guage wire...valve cover to body, alternator bracket to body and from the negative post on the batt to the body....my car still dims when i have idle surge...but other than that its alright.

that sounds like Nology spark wires, I may have that spelled wrong.

Turabaka, you are right in that sense but the science behind the ground kits is for electronics to read quicker as if they were on a component board.
Yes a heavier ground cable would be an improvement.

Messy I don't know what causes that dimming (on these cars anyway) from what i have read here, nothing seems to work at consistantly pin pointing the cause. Mine in particular the transmission indicator light does wierd flashes like it was trying to flash a code. Doesnt always do it though.

[russiankid]

So maybe I will switch to 4 guage then. Has anyone actually noticed a difference in any of the sections like starting, torque and what not?

Only thing that I have noticed in upgrading the ground from the battery to the starter was smoother idle. The voltage does stay up higher too with lights on, but otherwise nothing power wise. I just redid my grounds today because I didn't solder them, soldering them actually made the idle even smoother.

[turabaka]

Did that guy put all of those wires in or just the three?

I don't know if he did or not, but when I upgraded my grounds with 4 gauge I did all of the ones in the diagram. I figured while I'm at it, and I've got the extra cable I might as well do it.

[russiankid]

I don't know if he did or not, but when I upgraded my grounds with 4 gauge I did all of the ones in the diagram. I figured while I'm at it, and I've got the extra cable I might as well do it.

Indeed. They are very easy to make but make sure to solder the connections. This will insure a solid connection.

[lostforawhile]

Did that guy put all of those wires in or just the three?why don't you just go to the auto parts store and get 4 gauge battery cable lengths with ends already on them? they are cheap. are you sure you aren't really cah?

[Civic Accord Honda]

why don't you just go to the auto parts store and get 4 gauge battery cable lengths with ends already on them? they are cheap. are you sure you aren't really cah?
O_O.......im the only CAH :rice:
and yeah u can go to autozone or walmart and get the cables thats what i did when i replaced one of them

[turabaka]

Indeed. They are very easy to make but make sure to solder the connections. This will insure a solid connection.

yep that is definitely a good idea. I used solder on mine.

[russiankid]

yep that is definitely a good idea. I used solder on mine.

I ended up using my small propane torch to heat the wiring up so I can fill the whole connector with solder:nuts:

[turabaka]

^^ heh. what a coincidence. I did it exactly the same way.

[Hazwan]

I ended up using my small propane torch to heat the wiring up so I can fill the whole connector with solder:nuts:

I did the same too. My cheapo soldering iron doesn't have wattage to heat the whole connector. Plus I don't trust my crimping job, which is a PITA to do with such thick connector. I had to hit mine with hammer and vice :D

[lostforawhile]

I did the same too. My cheapo soldering iron doesn't have wattage to heat the whole connector. Plus I don't trust my crimping job, which is a PITA to do with such thick connector. I had to hit mine with hammer and vice :Dthats how they crimp them. you can hit it with a die ,or you can puchace a set of crimping dies,you put the connector in the die, then squeeze it with the vise.

[lostforawhile]

http://brian76.mystarband.net/6AWGcrimper.jpg

[lostforawhile]

i just saw a really good writeup on here about this, and it's vanished into thin air. i was downloading pics to add to it and it disappeared. i subscribed to it too and no clue, anyway i'll post the pics here. it was about the big three also. i was running 2 gauge cable back to the back of the car to relocate the battery. i ran it inside of air line hose for physical protection.

when you connect these large type wires together,instead of crimping and soldering, you can use split bolt connectors
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd158/lostforawhile/S4020042.jpg
these are a mechanical type connector, you insert all the wires into it,then you tighten the halves together.
you can get them in different sizes
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd158/lostforawhile/S4020043.jpg
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd158/lostforawhile/S4020046.jpg
after that,you wrap it in rubber insulating tape,this tape sticks to itself,you stretch it super tight over the connector,
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd158/lostforawhile/S4020049.jpg
then you wrap the rubber tape with several layers of quality electrical tape. this is 3m tartan type tape. DON"T use the walmart special tape. http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd158/lostforawhile/S4020045.jpg
to hold down the wire and air hose over it,i used rubber insulated clamps,these attach with screws into the sheet metal. you don't want to use wire wraps for these heavy wires.
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd158/lostforawhile/S4020044.jpg
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd158/lostforawhile/S4020048.jpg