[EOD Guy]

If the mounting bolt is bolted thru the body/firewall.... wouldn't that be a good ground? (assuming the body is grounded)

[Irelands child]

Originally Posted by EOD Guy

If the mounting bolt is bolted thru the body/firewall.... wouldn't that be a good ground? (assuming the body is grounded)

Most try to not add holes to the firewall for appearance sake. It's usually painted, or, in many cases, a street rod is fiberglass bodied. The mounting arrangement for Vintage Air is a bracket but is mounted on the pass. side.

With a 'glass bodied car, the car builder usually has some sort of ground system that's generally directly connected to the main ground for the battery, usually the engine.

[EOD Guy]

I see your point..... I realize fiberglassed bodies need a ground, point was "IF" the body/firewall was grounded, why wouldn't a mounting bolt make a good ground? I could have been clearer..... and stated firewall ground system/strap etc....

[Joe G]

Originally Posted by EOD Guy

If the mounting bolt is bolted thru the body/firewall.... wouldn't that be a good ground? (assuming the body is grounded)

The mounting bolt I was talking about is the bolt on the back of the dash control panel, not the ones that holds the main unit to the firewall. Most of the Vintage Air control panels do not have through-bolts that attach them to the dash. They have clips that press against the back of the dash and clamp the control panel in place as you tighten the screws. Usually, when a car has been repainted or restored, there is far too much paint in the area where the clips clamp against the dash to get much of a ground at all.

IMO, a thru-bolt can work but is not an ideal ground. Threads offer more surface contact area than the tip of a lockwasher can, so I try to make all my grounds either sheet metal screws, or on heavier metal, machine screws into tapped holes.

That's what my auto-wiring mentor drilled into my head, anyway. Opinions may vary.....

[Arrowhead]

Vince,

Can't help you with your valve problem, but the thread prompted me to check mine and sure enough, the valve was partialy open. But, it was because the valve won't fully close with the fan in the off position.
Once I turned the fan on, the valve closed the rest of the way so now I know to keep an eye on it.

[ogre]

Originally Posted by Joe G

i like my VA system, but their connections leave a lot to be desired. the control panel connection should be a plug, not 15 single spade connectors. i have more problems with a single spade connector working loose than anything else. usually while i'm working under the dash.

it would be a big improvement if VA put a pigtail and a single plug on their systems.