ground negative, positive

[toplesshorse]

Since my car had no battery. (Just a hole in the pan) How do I know if the car is a negative ground car or not. It's a '74 midget. I assume by the late model it is a negative ground car.

 

[SilentUnicorn]

Good morning,
wouldnt a good indication be which way the coil is wired? negative ground means coil (-) to dizzy, and positive ground mean the coil (+) to the dizzy.

i have the same question with my A, but havent really worried about it yet.


mark

 

[Bugeye58]

A '74 is negative ground. There should be a sticker on the panel near the bonnet latch that says "Caution, this vehicle wired negative earth".
If it has an alternator, it's neg. ground.
Jeff

 

[toplesshorse]

Thanks I believed it to be negative due to the year. I have delt with MGC GT that had dual batteries, but not any positive ground cars.

It does have an alternator. This is a car that has sat outside for 9 years. The coil was laying under the bonnet unhooked and there are no stickes just rust.

I put together my engine hoist yesterday and think I have everything but the starter wires unhooked to pull the engine and trany. We'll find out.

Thanks.

 

[Bugeye58]

Don't forget the ground strap that goes to the clutch slave cylinder bolt! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Jeff

 

[Tullamore]

[ QUOTE ]
A '74 is negative ground. There should be a sticker on the panel near the bonnet latch that says "Caution, this vehicle wired negative earth".

[/ QUOTE ]

Also it will say on Tach if the car was originally positive earth.

 

[Bugeye58]

I just went out and looked at my '74, (Mfg. 8/74) The tach says, 4 cyl, negative earth, RVC1410/01AF.
That is the original tach for the car.
Jeff