Scrubbing the engine ground cured two problems.

[Fogey1]

Originally Posted by MPDano

... Also, I was thinking maybe adding a heat resistent layer to the ground near the engine. I use the Vulcanizing Silicone Tape in high heat areas. I used it on my Harness when I rebuilt it.

Good stuff:
Moroso 72038 - Moroso Self-Vulcanizing Tape - Overview - SummitRacing.com

You could use that, @ $26 for 12'. After all, speed costs money, how fast ... ?

Or you could go with 6 10' rolls of the same stuff @ $30:
Repair tape – X-treme Tape - Duluth Trading Company

Or 1-1/2" x 10' @ $8.50:
Repair tape – X-Treme Tape - Duluth Trading Company

Or 36' @ $20:
36 ft Roll E-Treme Tape - Duluth Trading Company

It's amazing stuff any way you cut it.

[JhwShark]

Originally Posted by Fogey1

You could use that, @ $26 for 12'. After all, speed costs money, how fast ... ?

Or 36' @ $20:
36 ft Roll E-Treme Tape - Duluth Trading Company

It's amazing stuff any way you cut it.

I went with the 36' roll...great stuff!...Duluth TC, but I am not sure about the clothes...
Jon

[Maleficio]

I just asked them to make me a cable about 18 inches long.

I used vulcanizing tape on the battery ground because it was a tight fit between it and the well cover. But, yes, vulcanizing tape is fantastic.

I may wrap my new cable in it, too.

[MPDano]

Originally Posted by Fogey1

You could use that, @ $26 for 12'. After all, speed costs money, how fast ... ?

Or you could go with 6 10' rolls of the same stuff @ $30:
Repair tape – X-treme Tape - Duluth Trading Company

Or 1-1/2" x 10' @ $8.50:
Repair tape – X-Treme Tape - Duluth Trading Company

Or 36' @ $20:
36 ft Roll E-Treme Tape - Duluth Trading Company

It's amazing stuff any way you cut it.

It was just an example of what's out there, not that I was pointing you to buy there. I actually bought a couple rolls from eBay. Let me see if I can find it now. Those are some great prices that you posted BTW.

[MPDano]

Here's 2 rolls of any color for $10 shipped

Self fusing Silicone Tape 2 Rolls - 8 Color Choices - eBay (item 380150238113 end time May-14-10 17:45:11 PDT)

[dcrasta]

Man you are like my Master PO . THanks! Just wrote that down. Do you suggest doing the 'custom' Ground cable ala monster cable like the OP? Although there was much debate in the RX7 Forums about Ground 'Strap' vs Cable (voltage traveling on the surface vs inside.. science crap.. LOL)

FWIW LandSeer aka Chris knows his stuff and has been around these cars 'more than once' lol..

Thanks for you guidance Chris!

[MPDano]

I also read some wiring shootout with Monster Brand Cable vs Generic Cable of the same Gauge and Strand and there was no difference except the friggin monster price. Probably can be Googled. I remember outfitting my Expedition with Monster Cable back in the day and that stuff is expensive. Never again.

[Maleficio]

Today's news is Interesting, too.

I went on another bad ground search, and found the fuel injection ground on the passenger side head to be finger-tight. Fixed that.

Cleaned up two other grounds. Found the connector for the distributor green cable to be broken and crumbly. Cleaned up the contacts, and reassembled with electrical tape. I know: yuck.

Then decided to clean the combustion chamber with Amsoil Powerfoam. Fired up the car, and fifteen minutes later the car would barely run. The Powerfoam had already burned out by the time the engine was firing on one cylinder.

So after about 20 minutes of head-scratching, I determined the Powerfoam had fried the Pulstar plugs.

So I went and got a set of AC Delco replacements, installed, car runs fine.

I'll be returning the Pulstars for a refund. They performed well, but can't take even a half-dose of Powerfoam.

They were covered in a coat of shiny, black carbon. I've never seen this on a plug before. Like someone painted them with gloss-black paint.

Next trick is to determine if my injectors are junk or not.

[Maleficio]

What!? No I told you so's.

kick me in the balls!

I'm just glad it took me twenty minutes to figure it out.

[harborman]

Originally Posted by Maleficio

I'm sure you've all heard this electrical theory: electrons travel on the surface of the conductor, not through the conductor. So, by removing corrosion from the surfaces of all the strands in the ground strap, one can optimize ground's negative potential, thus lessening the load on the alternator. The energy it produces can be utilized equally amongst all loads without concern for discharge rate, especially spark plugs.

At DC the electrons are through and around the conductor. It is when you get into RF frequencies, especially high frequency like micro wave that the electrons flow on the surface of the conductors.

Glad you found some problems and fixed them!

[Danglerb]

Main issue I see for engine ground strap is that it takes a LOT of heat and flexing for such a short cable, so I would use something with fine strands and lots of them with a high quality end to end sealed cover that can take the heat.

[harborman]

Originally Posted by Danglerb

Main issue I see for engine ground strap is that it takes a LOT of heat and flexing for such a short cable, so I would use something with fine strands and lots of them with a high quality end to end sealed cover that can take the heat.

You are right! I would also solder the connectors and if you can use teflon covered cable wire and many fine wires inside, like in some welder cables. Some Marina supply houses might be a good source of wire and connectors. Also, some really heavy copper flat braided wire like on the rear ground connection at the battery.

[Landseer]

$7 at advance auto guys.

[Maleficio]

Originally Posted by Danglerb

Main issue I see for engine ground strap is that it takes a LOT of heat and flexing for such a short cable, so I would use something with fine strands and lots of them with a high quality end to end sealed cover that can take the heat.

You've described exactly what I installed.

[Arizona_928]

Is that the ground that is on the passenger side frame, by the motor mount?

[Maleficio]

Originally Posted by AZ_porschekid

Is that the ground that is on the passenger side frame, by the motor mount?

Yes.

[Stan.Shaw]

Originally Posted by Landseer

$7 at advance auto guys.

For the main ground?
I am thinking just replacing the main grounds would be a good idea...

[Maleficio]

Replace every ground cable you can locate. It pays off in dividends.

[MPDano]

Hey, found this on the Summit site. How long is the stock one on our cars?

[Maleficio]

About 12 inches.