Question on replacing the points breaker plate ground strap

[Michael L.]

Guys,

I've just pulled my distributor to change the VAC and I decided to replace the ground strap. I replaced it a year or two ago but I used a very thick gauge wire and, as a result of heating it to solder it both to the plate and the terminal at the end, the wire stiffened up considerably and was restricting the plate movement. My two questions are what gauge wire should I use and do I need to solder the ends or is just crimping them enough? I have the wire off a condenser I recently took out of the car and was thinking of using this. Thanks for your input.

Mike

[Stephen L.]

Re: Question on replacing the points breaker plate ground strap

That wire must be very flexible due to the breaker plate movement. Standard stranded wire is not very flexible and will break prematurely. I don't know of a source of correct wire.......

[Peter H.]

Re: Question on replacing the points breaker plate ground strap

Hello Michael. You Can Buy This Complete Wire Lead With Terminals From NAPA / Echlin. Part # LW42. Made In USA. I Carry One As A Spare
Peter 🇨🇦

[Joe L.]

Re: Question on replacing the points breaker plate ground strap

Guys,

I've just pulled my distributor to change the VAC and I decided to replace the ground strap. I replaced it a year or two ago but I used a very thick gauge wire and, as a result of heating it to solder it both to the plate and the terminal at the end, the wire stiffened up considerably and was restricting the plate movement. My two questions are what gauge wire should I use and do I need to solder the ends or is just crimping them enough? I have the wire off a condenser I recently took out of the car and was thinking of using this. Thanks for your input.

Mike

Mike------


The GM part number was 1932002 but it's long-since discontinued. You should be able to find some on eBay. Or, easily available in the aftermarket SMP #DDL-21. However, I think the aftermarket versions are longer.

[Michael L.]

Re: Question on replacing the points breaker plate ground strap

Thanks guys. As for attaching the wire to the breaker plate, is crimping enough or do I have to solder it?

[Joe L.]

Re: Question on replacing the points breaker plate ground strap

Thanks guys. As for attaching the wire to the breaker plate, is crimping enough or do I have to solder it?

Michael------


It needs to be soldered.

[Christopher R.]

Re: Question on replacing the points breaker plate ground strap

The wire that you can buy from NAPA (and others) has terminals on both ends. Is it absolutely necessary to solder one of the ends to the plate? Why can't I screw it to the plate? I too carry one of these wires in my on the road emergency spares kit. If this wire were to break on the road, I'm going to replace it by screwing one of the ends to the plate. Not likely I'll be able to do soldering on the side of the road.

[Duke W.]

Re: Question on replacing the points breaker plate ground strap

You can fasten one terminal of the LW42 wire to one of the screws that secure the points to the breaker plate and the other to one of the VAC mounting screws as the OE ground wire is.

Route the wire to allow it to move as little as possible under breaker plate rotation due to VAC action.

Carrying a spare is a great idea.

Duke

[Joe L.]

Re: Question on replacing the points breaker plate ground strap

You can fasten one terminal of the LW42 wire to one of the screws that secure the points to the breaker plate and the other to one of the VAC mounting screws as the OE ground wire is.

Route the wire to allow it to move as little as possible under breaker plate rotation due to VAC action.

Carrying a spare is a great idea.

Duke

Duke-----

The original GM wire I previously mentioned did not have a spade terminal on both ends. It had a spade terminal on one end and a "flat" terminal on the other end. The only way to attach the latter was to solder it to the plate.

[Duke W.]

Re: Question on replacing the points breaker plate ground strap

Yes, I understand, and the service breaker plate included the wire that I don't think was available separately. The LW42 is a aftermarket repair part that can be installed without removing and disassembling the distributor.

Also for the OP and others you can swap the VAC on a single point or TI distributor without removing it from the engine. The secret is to pump down the VAC with a vacuum pump, remove the two screws and carefully wiggle and twist the pin out of the breaker plate.

To install pump the VAC down all the way and reverse the above removal procedure. Don't forget to install the ground wire on the screw on single point models.

Duke

[Joe L.]

Re: Question on replacing the points breaker plate ground strap

Yes, I understand, and the service breaker plate included the wire that I don't think was available separately. The LW42 is a aftermarket repair part that can be installed without removing and disassembling the distributor.

Also for the OP and others you can swap the VAC on a single point or TI distributor without removing it from the engine. The secret is to pump down the VAC with a vacuum pump, remove the two screws and carefully wiggle and twist the pin out of the breaker plate.

To install pump the VAC down all the way and reverse the above removal procedure. Don't forget to install the ground wire on the screw on single point models.

Duke

Duke------


The wire was available separately under the GM part number I referenced above.

[John D.]

Re: Question on replacing the points breaker plate ground strap

Don Baker and I have talked about this often. He has told me the exact number of strands of copper wire. I think he said it was 60?
I will text him to confirm this. Don found some wire that has about 48-49 strands. This is what he uses.
Yes he solders the wire and not just crimp this.
Story: Back in 1963-1965 I hung out at at Grakiak Chevrolet. That's who sponsored me to go the GM training center.
Grabiaks had one mechanic-my friend Timmy who worked on the fuel cars. He had a midyear FI car that he could not get running.
He even tool a fuel unit from another car and put it on. Anyhow I was hanging out watching him when the owner told me to leave as Timmy was very irate.
To the point. It was the wire we are talking about. That was the issue.
I was outside the open garage door and hollered at him. Told him to swap out the distributor.
The fuel car then started right up. True story. John

I remember all that stuff gang. Like it was yesterday.

[Joe L.]

Re: Question on replacing the points breaker plate ground strap

Here are photos of an NOS GM #1932002 [not for sale]. It is 2-7/16" in length, end-to-end. The insulation is a very flexible rubber material, not the much more common plastic material used for most electrical wire insulation of the period.

DSCN3995.jpgDSCN3996.jpgDSCN3997.jpgDSCN3998.jpg

[Duke W.]

Re: Question on replacing the points breaker plate ground strap

I can't recall... was the end that attaches to the breaker plate just crimped, or both crimped and soldered?

Every one who has a single point distributor should read the following thread and take appropriate action.

L-79 distributor blueprint overhaul (ncrs.org)

Duke

[Joe L.]

Re: Question on replacing the points breaker plate ground strap

I can't recall... was the end that attaches to the breaker plate just crimped, or both crimped and soldered?

Every one who has a single point distributor should read the following thread and take appropriate action.

L-79 distributor blueprint overhaul (ncrs.org)

Duke

Duke-----

The original GM ground lead was soldered to the base plate. I don't even know a way that it could be crimped. In my 55 year history with Chevrolets I've never had any problem with this lead failing in any way, including the solder attachment failing or the wire breaking.