Thread: 32 highboy sedan battery mount

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Hey guys. If I were to build a 32 highboy sedan where would the battery go. The only place I can think of is under the back seat.

I use the real small ones and put it under the dash.
Ken

If I remember correctly, Ken is running the same battery I am, an Odyssey PC680. It's only 7 inches wide x 3 thick and 7 tall, but it starts my T every time, even after sitting for months at a time.

Don

Wow, I really screwed up that picture!

I guess I should have asked before I installed that monster Optima in my car's trunk



(That rat's nest of wires alongside the battery have been cleaned up since this photo was taken)

Originally Posted by Ken Thurm

I use the real small ones and put it under the dash.
Ken

This is a great idea! Thanks both Ken and Don for a great tip! I really didn't like the idea of 15' battery cables running from the trunk. I will be looking to allocate space for an Odyssey behind the dash.

On both my 32 roadster and my 32 3W coupe ... I have a place in the floor ... under the passenger seat. I like to use a Group 24 battery with 8oo CCA. The group 24 is a easier found replacement battery ... if you have trouble away from home. I also do not like the battery in the trunk ( just me ) but my wifes new DTS Caddy have one from the factory under the back seat. I like the battery as close to the firewall as possible to eliminate LONG battery cables. Henry Ford installed the battery in 32 Fords ... in about the same location I have mine. The top of the battery box in mine is flush with the front floor ... so it it high enough NOT to hang down below the frame and that the battery CANNOT be seen from a side view of the 32.



You can see that the seat clears the metal cover over the battery and in no way ... affects the operation of the seat. You can also see ( if you look at the 3rd photo ) the cut -off KILL switch.

Originally Posted by Deuce

On both my 32 roadster and my 32 3W coupe ... I have a place in the floor ... under the passenger seat. I like to use a Group 24 battery with 8oo CCA.

Deuce, your mentioning CCA made me look again, and that little dry battery has only 220 CCA. I plan to drive year round, in decent weather, so I may need to re-think using the little Odyssey.

Originally Posted by rspears

Deuce, your mentioning CCA made me look again, and that little dry battery has only 220 CCA. I plan to drive year round, in decent weather, so I may need to re-think using the little Odyssey.

I was politely trying to telling you that the little battery MIGHT not be enough.
I did not want to put anyone else's choices or selections down.
My 3W has Vintage Air ... and air conditioning needs amps. I also have a PowerMaster high amperage alternator.



A/C , along with Halogen Sylvania SilverStar H4 headlights and halogen tail lights ... requires a prety good electrical system. That little battery may work for the other guys ... but not in my car.

CCA are only part of the picture.
PC 680 / PC 680mj Specs:

* 680 cranking amps for 5 seconds
* 595 cranking amps for 10 seconds
* 525 cranking amps for 20 seconds
* Short circuit current over 1800A
* 17Ah
* 25 minute reserve capacity with 25amp load
* CCA - 220 (Is this important?)
* Female brass terminal w/M6 SS bolt

I was very leery when I first heard of these so I called the company. The President of Odyssey told me he is using one of these to start his blown BBC engine with power to spare. Mine has been in the car for 3 years now with absolutely no problems. Conversely, my Son Don has an Optima that he has to keep a trickle charger on at all times or it goes dead after a few weeks. This little Odyssey sits for months sometimes and always cranks it fine.

However, if you do have a lot of accessories like A/C, amplifiers, etc, it might be wise to add a bigger one.

Don

I have that one in my truck. It has a pretty nice stereo in it with a 55 amp alternator and mine is always up. No problems, I drive it 2 or 3 times a week, weather permitting.
You can add up your usage and take the guessing out of it. It's just so nice to work with the small size. I have two wing nuts and it drops down from under my dash.
Ken

Pretty much same here. During even daylight hours I run with my headlights (halogen) on because otherwise my volt meter starts climbing into the 14+ volt range, and these dry batteries are happier at around 13.8 max. The other advantage of the way Ken mounts his batteries is a very short cable run. Mine is in the back, but still cranks fine.

By the way Ken, your new avatar rocks.

Don

i seen the small dry cells crank 540 plane engines seam to be the way to go??i have two optima s and the one its DEAD . so the hold out is no better then a plate battery so i going to try to work the batteries thru my every day driver to help keep them up in the winter time just have to wash all the salt off them before putting them back in the cars

The guy I spoke to at Odyssey said they were originally the people who developed the Optimas, but the Optimas had an inherent problem. Because it has those 6 round cylinders there is a lot of dead area in between each one and that space contributes nothing to the output. They knew if they could build the same battery but without the round cells they could build a stronger, but smaller battery. However, until the robotics were developed to handle the plates (for some reason human beings can't handle them) they couldn't build them. Once the robotics did become available they were able to start making them.

All of what he was explaining was over my head, and it was 3 years ago, so I may be a little off on those details, but that is the gist of it. I was so skeptical I planned space in my T for a second one to double up on the kick, but as soon as I fired the engine for the first time I knew it wasn't going to be needed.........and that continues to this day, three years later.

Don

Originally Posted by Ken Thurm

I have that one in my truck. It has a pretty nice stereo in it with a 55 amp alternator and mine is always up. No problems, I drive it 2 or 3 times a week, weather permitting.
You can add up your usage and take the guessing out of it. It's just so nice to work with the small size. I have two wing nuts and it drops down from under my dash.
Ken

Ken,
I agree, the battery is there to start the engine, and to supplement in those low rpm times when the alternator output can't handle the load. I have a 100amp alternator, which helps that situation. It is probably shown in a build thread, but did you use bulkhead connectors to pass through the firewall or thread the cables in grommets and then terminate ends? Anything special on mounting for the two wingnut drop out? One of the nice things is that the dry unit can mount in any orientation, upright or flat - right?

Originally Posted by rspears

Ken,
I agree, the battery is there to start the engine, and to supplement in those low rpm times when the alternator output can't handle the load. I have a 100amp alternator, which helps that situation. It is probably shown in a build thread, but did you use bulkhead connectors to pass through the firewall or thread the cables in grommets and then terminate ends? Anything special on mounting for the two wingnut drop out? One of the nice things is that the dry unit can mount in any orientation, upright or flat - right?

I am going out of town till Monday, but if you want I will dig out the photo's on how I did it and post them then.
Ken