Getting ready to start building the battery box for my 31 Tudor & plan on mounting it under the floor between the front and rear seats on the drivers inside frame rail. Looking at different battery sizes and wanting something small but something I can get at a Wal-Mart or parts stores. So have you gents taken battery size into consideration when you were building? And which group size did you settle on ?
I needed a smaller battery for the roadster. I went with an Interstate MT56. Ordered it for an '89 Mustang. 10" long, 6" wide, 8-1/4" high. 590 CCA and 95 min RC. About $120.
It all depends on your engine. If a 4 cylinder model A you would use a much smaller battery then if you had a 394 hemi. so we need more info.
This one cranks a 302 Ford. Been going on 6 years and still works. Might not work with 10:1 compression though.
I have that same battery and it starts and runs ok if your engine fires on the first crank , but if you’re doing any tune ups or excessive cranking put a charger on it . It has zero reserve. I also have to put a automatic trickle charger on it during the off time .
Get the biggest battery with the most cold cranking amps that you can fit in the space. That's what I did with my 472 Caddy engine in my 49 Buick.
I'm planning for 2 group 27s in my Henry J in the trunk. It's ballast behind the rear tires and 15:1 compression takes a bit to crank over. It's all in what you need. Devin
Group 26, seems to be the smallest commonly available size with a top post. Running them in my blown big block street/srip cars, they work ok for me. But I'm a known cheapskate. https://www.walmart.com/ip/ValuePower-Lead-Acid-Automotive-Battery-Group-26/47308801
I think mine is a series 75 sidepost...bought at a swapmeet for $40. It seems plenty strong enough to crank a 370 Poncho motor.
Thanks guys, appreciate the input! Looking for the best cca in a small package. Want to start working on the box but need some dimensions to go by and really don't want to do it twice (seems to be a pattern on some things).
I replaced battery in my 37 Ford in Mar. 2004 with a Pep Boys 75 series Energizer . It's mounted in trunk and over winter its on a charger. That's 15 years old , also my 2007 Dodge Magnum has the original battery which is in trunk . I do believe keeping the battery away from engine heat prolongs their life.
Heat, and vibration, are the big enemy. "Batteries die in July, they just don't fall over till November" or somesuch. Combine that with chronic undercharging and it's amazing they last more than a year or two. I've read stationary lead-acid batteries that are maintained typically last up to 20 years.
Car batteries that are taken care of generally last about 5 years. You can use them longer, but they won't have their original reserve capacity. And it might be that you notice batteries having problems when the weather gets cold, as they have more load, and less energy when it's cold out.
Thanks guys! Thanks for the chart RM ! I just replaced a mopar battery in my 02 ram. Battery was a 2008. It still worked fine just getting a little weak. After 11 yrs I guess it deserved it. My parts guys just shook his head and laughed.
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