Type R Club of America

Unsure if you want to keep this thread as your preferred build thread vs. build a new, but FYI the valve cover ground strap is in the wrong spot on the front right of the valve cover.

This is a common mistake! You weren't the first and won't be the last. The right bolt grounds to an aluminum valve cover where as the left bolt grounds to the actual head assembly, which grounds further down stream.

FYI the valve cover ground strap is in the wrong spot on the front right of the valve cover.

This is a common mistake! You weren't the first and won't be the last. The right bolt grounds to an aluminum valve cover where as the left bolt grounds to the actual head assembly, which grounds further down stream.

Thank you coolhandluke for your input on this as I had always wondered about it's placement but decided for years to place it the same as the Spoon Sports vehicles, but if the ground strap is suppose to be grounded to the area as you are saying then this is something that needs to be known by all B-series engine owners.FYI the valve cover ground strap is in the wrong spot on the front right of the valve cover.

Is the Spoon Sports ground location correct?

coolhandluke wrote: ↑Thu Jan 11, 2024 2:52 pm Unsure if you want to keep this thread as your preferred build thread vs. build a new, but FYI the valve cover ground strap is in the wrong spot on the front right of the valve cover.

This is a common mistake! You weren't the first and won't be the last. The right bolt grounds to an aluminum valve cover where as the left bolt grounds to the actual head assembly, which grounds further down stream.

Great eye, assuming you are specifically looking at my last pic on the first page where the power steering was installed. With you having said that I must share with you what ended up happening. A friend helped with the power steering pump install. He insisted that the valve cover ground goes there, I did not agree with him at all but said ok and let it be. We get done call it a night I start the car and park it inside. Fast forward 2 weeks later!!! … I take the car to get the Mugen twin loop off and get the oem exhaust and b-pipe on. I make 1 stop on the way home and make it home with all good. Next day I decided to work on the suspension. Try to start the car, there’s power but no sound, no turning, no clicking, nothing. I notice the CEL and BATT light dim as I try to crank it which isn’t normal. So I push the car out and decide to jump it later and get started on the suspension. Get one side done, need to move it for the other side. Try to jump the car for a while and still nothing. I go swap the battery out for a new one, still nothing. Frustrated with it and push it back inside and call it for the day.

Discussing with friends thinking, clutch pedal switch, ignition switch, starter, main relay lol. So a friend suggesting jumping the car again but hooking up direct power to the starter, car starts. Then started figuring out could be a ground. Connected negative to distributor base and it starts. Thinking about what changed, one I realized the valve cover ground was moved so I move it back, problem solved. BUT how did I get away with it for 2 weeks? What I think was the b-pipe was touching the chassis at the bend and creating a ground, but when it was removed the oem one is now purely on hangers not touching anything. How I got away with it from the shop to home, that I don’t know.

Some pics to show what I’m talking about. And as for the thread, do as you wish, leave it here or move it to the appropriate place, thank you.

Cars are fun, that sounds like a frustration process to troubleshoot. I would start with checking:
*Battery ground = is the ground location free from the black engine bay paint? Are the terminals rusted? It might be worth sanding all contact points