Main Earth Connection On Gearbox

[lagonda 42]

Just changing my hoses for Mr Baker's & thought I'd check out the earth connection as it was one of the few things I hadn't bothered with when replacing the head.

All appeared reasonably clean & tight, but I have doubts that the parts & order of them was providing the best electrical path.

In the order they came off, I had: self locking nut, main battery cable terminal, thin terminal with 2 or 3 green/yellow wires, thin terminal with 1 green/yellow wire, star type spring washer, stud with 13mm hex in middle, and a flat locking washer.

I don't see the point of the star washer, especially as the nut is self-locking. Would also see this as adding resistance, & the teeth gaps could encourage rust, so have left it out.

I've reassembled it with the main battery terminal going on the stud first, then the other 2 terminals, followed by the locking nut.

Does anyone agree/disagree with this?

I also feel it would be better still to fasten the main battery terminal directly to the gearbox, followed by the flat locking washer & stud, then attaching the two thinner terminals to the stud, followed by the locking nut. That would mean the current wouldn't have to flow through the stud, also as the main terminal is wider than the 13mm, contact area is restricted, whereas if the terminal is held directly to the gearbox by the stud, the entire contact area of the terminal is used.

[Richie-Van-GTi 71 2 Cars]

as long as it has clean contacts on fitting the stud and nuts resistance etc is negligible, after all its travelling through the block and the gearbox housing before it even reaches the studs.