did you use 8 or 4 gauge wire? Also, due to a bit of computer knowledge, I do know that gold does not go with metal and the other way around. Would these 'gold plated' ring terminals be of any harm to the ground connections? Also what did you use to connect all the wires to the negative post on the battery. Thanks for the input.

For those who plan to buy one of these 'kits' online, why not just make them at the fraction of the cost. your basic gauge wire used for a lot of audio apps, some connectors. I just have to get these simple details down, hit up ebay and do a quality job on my own.

 

how much improvement do u get out of grounding kit? very noticeable?

 

I made one out of 4 gauge wire ixos speaker wire and sodered gold connecters onto the wires. I like alot it is silver so it matches my car, i noticed the lights being brighter and the car driving more smoothly.

 

I used 4 guage stereo power wire for most of the grounds. For the main negative ground from the battery to the ground tab on the block, I used a 0/2 (or was it 2/0, as I know it is larger than 0 guage) piece of welding cable. I used a copper lug to secure it to the ground tab and a Stinger negative battery terminal to connect it to the battery.

I have noticed a slightly lower idle with the ground kit, but other than that no major improvements.

 

Here is a write-up that CullenJ76 made for me (I followed this one pretty much exactly for my own kit using 4 guage and 0/2):

First of all, no, you don't ground every wire directly to the battery. Only one wire goes to the battery. Some people use 2 and 4 guage wire, but that is pretty pointless IMO. Four and eight guage wire will be plenty. You will have one wire of the larger size(either 2 or 4 whichever you choose), and then smaller wires (either 4 or 8).

First you will need to run your one large wire directly from the negative post of the battery...


to the grounding tab on the block shown in these two pictures


close-up:

 

You will then run three smaller wires from that grounding tab on the block. Two of the wires will go to the factory grounding points in between the front valve cover and the intake manifold shown in the following pictures. These are the factory grounding points for the injectors, MAF, TPS, KS, and all other sensors of the motor that are neccessary to ground.(look closely and you'll see the ground wires zip-tied to the main wiring harness of the motor):



The last wire (third) you will run will also be coming from the same grounding tab on the block. It will run to the alternator grounding tab shown here. The best way to hide this wire is to take off your front spark plug cover and run it underneath(sandwiched in between the valve cover and the spark plug cover)and then put the spark plug cover back on.:
[img]http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_img_a/517875_52_full.jpg

Finished product(excuse the filthy engine bay):

 

very nice, and what difference have u felt, noticed with ure kit?

 

As I said in an above post:

 

wow, thanks for the mini writeup. I thought you had all wires coming off the negative post like the kits did, i guess i was wrong. Thanks, I guess ill stick with 8 gauge wire. I figureit was easier and more pliable to work with. Thanks again.

 

How does this DIY differ from say the Stillen kit?

 

nice write up

 

so its almost not worth doing this then for a slightly lower idle....

 

ive done 2 of the big 3 wires with 2g wire... (can't get to the third yet, no connectors) and done a little grounding kit w/ 6g wire.. didn't have any bigger...

hasn't helped though.. b/c i can roll my windows up and my lights dim.

 

You won't have to remorgue your house to afford it.

 

i guess, but uhm, looks like it could take more than 30 minutes...i can just not install one and say i did feel that lower idle?

 

I went on to eBay and order a 40 foot 4 gauge wires for around $20. I'll get the connector once I receive it. Shouldn't be a tough job.

 

pics of the grounding points?

 

Why on EARTH would you bring a 2 years OLD POST back!!!!!

 

why not just buy a grounding kit? i got a tcsportline for around 40 bucks and it had everything i needed along with 4 gauge wire??

 

Because its cheaper to make your own. And Easier. And quicker than waiting on shipping.

WhiteA32...wow...haha totally agree.

 

i was just doing a 'free search' and this is what came up? its better than making a completely new thread, and having people say, "SEARCH". but it's also a waste of bandwidth. Hypocritical on many ends, and reasoning not understood by some.

I mean, if your not going to contribute, don't bother posting.

As far as making my own. I think it is better obviously because you can custom the length and use quality parts. On eBay, their kits are cumbersome, a drag, and the quality is obviously questionable.

I just wanted to ask, if people grounded any additional parts as compared to the stock points, and etc.

 

I thought about that right after I posted...you search and anything comes up. Sorry about that.

Check the Audio forum, I think they talk about 'the big 3'. Starter, Battery and Alty, if I recall correctly. Never done it, but I ought to.