I messed up bad

Point taken. Definitely better to have it. But a car could run without it. :poke:

I'm a fan of good grounds.
I added grounds all over my car. From the battery to the core support, from the fuel gauge sending unit to the chassis, and from the instrument panel to the dash frame.

Actually I'm gonna take you to task for this. This statement is NOT true

WHY?

Assuming this is a bone stock as built "in the day" grounding from engine to frame was TERRIBLE and MINIMAL. There were only 1 or 2 small ground PATHS from engine to body.

WHERE IS THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR grounded? To body.
WHERE SHOULD IT be grounded?.......To the BATTERY
WHERE is the battery grounded?............To the engine...
Can you get from "the body" to "the battery" if there is no engine -to- body ground?
"Not very well and not without some voltage drop"

WHERE ARE THE LIGHTS, the heater motor, the lighter, the (name your favorite high current drain) grounded? Mostly the BODY.

You need more of and larger ground straps from battery to body or from engine to body. The factory ones were barely adequate, BARELY. With no added high load accessories like winches, fans, pumps, stereo, etc etc