Slow Leak?

[Darrman]

I have been having a problem with the battery in my truck, in that every time I go outside I have to recharge it after a couple days of non use.
Ok, the battery is new, a Walmart Everstart Maxx, and all cables and such are new as well. I have gone through all the spagetti wiring, fixing and deleting any useless added wiring. I would say that the wiring is in great shape now.
But still I keep having to recharge, today I went out and the battery was completly dead, which is a first. I rebuilt the alternater last year, new bearings and brushes, and had it tested, was told it was working, and seems to be pushing voltage if the gauges are plugged in, so I am assuming it works.
So any ideas as to what the problem could be? All switches inside are turned off, every electrical thing is installed and working except the heater controls, guages, headlights/ front parking lights and the radio, but I did pull the inline fuse for it.
Thanks for any help!

[Dragon]

We had a real problem with our ignition switches that started with the dual sided key and lasted into 1980 before a recall. The ignition switch shorts out internally and drains the battery. It can be so bad that trucks caught fire under the dash.

To test for it remove the electrical connector on the back of the ignition switch after you know the truck has a full charge. If the truck still has a charge the next morning then the switch is bad.

If the truck does not have a charge then disconnect the battery overnight and see if it has a charge in the morning. Then take two pulls in the morning and remove the VR one day from the circuit and remove the alternator and check again the next day.

If you can get a clamp DC Amp meter you can read for the drain on the wires rather than remove the items.

[drytoast]

It also could be your battery. I bought two of those wal-mart batteries and it did the same thing in a 78 ford f-150 I use to have. I ended up using an old motorcraft battery I found at the ford dealership I use to work at. For now on I only buy Interstate batteries and have had good luck with them. Just my

[Darrman]

I was going over the alternator today, and I have noticed something, there is not a ground wire. I have the book diagram, all the wires are hooked up correctly, but there isnt a ground wire period. This motor was transplanted by the P.O and they did a pretty crappy job, so did they leave the wire out? If so, where does is hook to for the grounding?

[Dragon]

It does not have to have a ground wire. Gassers had to have alternators below C/G class at one time. To save weight we never had ground wires. As long as you have one engine to battery or frame ground the alternator grounds through the mounts. It will only fail that ground path if the bolts are soaked in oil and loose.

[Darrman]

Ok, thanks, that is a relief. I have replace most of the switches in the dash, lights, ignition, cigar lighter, all new. The wiper is the original, and I mounted a used dash flasher switch in place of the glovebox one. Everything there works great.
I had the same type/brand battery in my Xplorer until this weekend, when I discovered it was leaking acid from around the positive post. So now replacement battery and new factory cables later, I am a little worried it might be the battery after all.