Ford script battery for show

Great Lakes Greg

Great Lakes Greg

Well-known member
I am doing a '29 Tudor to show in MARC Touring Class. Of all the "correct" parts I need, the battery is stinging the most. I have seen it from $225 to $305. When it goes dead in 5 years, is there some way to gut it or somehow re-use the case?
 
Yes. There are battery rebuilders that will rebuild the "tar top" batteries, including that expensive script battery you are comtemplating. The rebuild cost is less than half the cost of a new one. In Southern California, I recommend ABC Batteries. They are located at 10810 Garfield Avenue, South Gate. 562.861.0356. It's a family run business, and they treat you like family when you go in there. I and a few friends have had our Ford script batteries rebuilt there without problems.

Dave Lopes
 
With my experiences with things getting mailed, the chance of having the battery shipped and staying in one piece is nill.

I know of a battery rebuilder in Watertown, S.D., but don't know of any others. Of course I haven't really done any checking either.
 
Larry Seemann said:
Greg, do you know anyone with a script battery you can borrow just for the judging then swap back after?
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Well now, that is quite an ethical can of worms you are opening! So when is it OK to 'borrow' perfect original parts for your restoration and receive judging points for that item? How many is OK? One? Dozens? Why not just borrow Marco's roadster and enter it as your own?

That type of indiscretion (CHEATING in my book) has been discussed before. Perhaps you belong to a culture that condones disohnesty, the type that claim "cheating is only bad if you get caught, it is expected"??
 
I think he's talking about a reproduction battery. If you use a reproduction part and don't point out to the judge that it's reproduction and he doesn't catch it, is that cheating?
 
MikeK said:
Well now, that is quite an ethical can of worms you are opening! So when is it OK to 'borrow' perfect original parts for your restoration and receive judging points for that item? How many is OK? One? Dozens? Why not just borrow Marco's roadster and enter it as your own?

That type of indiscretion (CHEATING in my book) has been discussed before. Perhaps you belong to a culture that condones disohnesty, the type that claim "cheating is only bad if you get caught, it is expected"??
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MIKE Borrowing a REPRODUCTION Battery for Touring class is NOT cheating, when the judges are aware of it and basically allow it for the purpose of touring class. Fine Point, yea that opens a whole new discussion and unfortunately DONE AND DONE and ALL know about it. :cool:
 
msmaron said:
MIKE Borrowing a REPRODUCTION Battery for Touring class is NOT cheating, when the judges are aware of it and basically allow it for the purpose of touring class. Fine Point, yea that opens a whole new discussion and unfortunately DONE AND DONE and ALL know about it. :cool:
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Guys, this is the biggest "crock" I have ever heard of. A vehicle in Fine Point is judged exactly how it appears that day only! It doesn't matter whether it has borrowed parts, or purchased parts off of a former fine-point car. And, it doesn't matter whether some of the parts are professionally restored, ...or owner restored. Also, it doesn't matter how many owners that vehicle has when it is in fine-point competition. Furthermore, show me where it states in the Stds or any book for that matter that any of this is illegal, immoral, --or unethical! The only misconduct (i.e.: unethical, immoral, etc.) from this would happen if a Judge purposely downgraded a score on a vehicle in competion because he knew the vehicle had borrowed parts on it that day.

AND, if you still feel this is unethical in your mind, just think this one through for a moment. About 2 weeks ago NASCAR driver Jimmy Johnson who is in the chase for the Championship was having a bad day in the pits with stops. When Jeff Gordon crashed out, the "Rainbow Warriors" pit crew came over and replaced Jimmy's entire crew simply because they were better. It was all about scoring better and because of that tactical strategy, they finished higher in the points that day. In NHRA earlier this year, a team borrowed an engine from another team just so they could beat a points rival. Guess what, them borrowing that engine allowed them to gain enough points by blocking that they won the Championship.
 
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BRENT in 10-uh-C said:
. . . Also, it doesn't matter how many owners that vehicle has when it is in fine-point competition. . .
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Brent, (and Mark) in retrospect, you are absolutely correct. I was too focused on the concept of someone actually possessing a complete resto, not just parts of it. I guess the part that always bothered me at all those awards banquets I have gone to are the people standing to receive their trophies, plaques, Henrys, etc. and just silently smiling. Borrowed parts in racing never bothered me because the first thing out of a driver or team owners mouth when the spotlight was on was an endless list of the people they thanked for the combined effort.

Someday I'd like to see a Best at Show or Henry recipient stand up and say "I'd like to thank A,B,C, . .X,Y,Z for the loan of the wiper hose, battery, plugs, gas cap, fan belt, wheels and tires, coil, jack, tool pouch, instruction manual. . .

It's too bad everyone in fine point has to submit their tools at the same time. If they spread it out you would only need a few sets for a hundred cars. Heck, the judges could just own and keep the sets, and give everybody who shows up full points without having to actually lug tools and jacks to and from the meets. I was mistakenly under the impression that you actually needed to have your own tools. Since that is not the case, and the JS make no such demand, it is rather punitive to submit them all at the same time. It kills the 'borrowing' spirit. You could take pictures of the entrants standing by the correct set of tools, just like the photos taken with the person by 'their' car.

I've been way too stingy with my own private collection of perfect, NOS stuff. Perhaps it's time to set up a Fordbarn loan and borrow group for judging parts, kinda like many clubs have tool libraries holding thousands of dollars worth of stuff the average guy only needs once.
 
Thanks Brent for posting a reasonable, well worded response.
I'm too fatigued lately to enter into these types of threads. This one made me laugh, out loud too. Where would the automotive world be today if camararderie (sp?) between teams didn't exist? Brent's so right on the money. It's been happening since day one and will continue as long as people with kind hearts exist.

So, using MikeK's reasoning, I shouldn't loan out original fan belts or radiator hoses anymore? HA! I want my friends and acquaintences to score as high as possible, so I'll never quit doing this whenever I feel like it. Oh, I could go on and on, but I just wanted to add my two cents that Brent and Mark's responses are right on.

Tom W. I've had about eight script batteries shipped to me over the years from New Castle Battery and never had one damaged during shipping. They use a dense foam packing all around the battery for protection. I wasn't really suggesting that Greg use ABC Battery for rebuilding, just wanted to put their name out there for Southern Californian's who may need their service. I've never had them ship a battery, so I don't know how well they would package it.

Dave Lopes
 
If a "Miss America" contestant ran out of lipstick and borrowed some from another contestant I don't think anyone would consider that cheating because it's just cosmetic, like a repro script battery is cosmetic. However, if for the "talent competition" , the contestant's talent was "I make my own clothes" and she went out on the stage wearing clothes made by someone else - because they looked better- that would be cheating.
I'm not even going to discuss breast implants.
BTW, Mike, It hurt my feelings when you suggested I come from a culture of dishonesty. I've been on this board, and the prior board, and ahooga for over 12 years and have helped my fellow hobbiests whenever I could. I've restored some cars (I currently own 4 Model A's) I've gotten a blue ribbon in judging and I have never suggested to anyone that they do anything dishonest.
Another BTW - I have always appreciated the good advice that you give out here.
 
Larry Seemann said:
If a "Miss America" contestant ran out of lipstick and borrowed some from another contestant I don't think anyone would consider that cheating because it's just cosmetic, like a repro script battery is cosmetic. However, if for the "talent competition" , the contestant's talent was "I make my own clothes" and she went out on the stage wearing clothes made by someone else - because they looked better- that would be cheating.
I'm not even going to discuss breast implants.
BTW, Mike, It hurt my feelings when you suggested I come from a culture of dishonesty. I've been on this board, and the prior board, and ahooga for over 12 years and have helped my fellow hobbiests whenever I could. I've restored some cars (I currently own 4 Model A's) I've gotten a blue ribbon in judging and I have never suggested to anyone that they do anything dishonest.
Another BTW - I have always appreciated the good advice that you give out here.
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Larry, My sincerest apologies. I did not mean to direct the culture reference specifically at you. We ALL live in that culture today and need to be prudent not to fall victim to mass thinking. Breast implants? Heck, I can make a car reference out of that- same thing as Bondo. Only a tiny bit when absolutely necessary, too much isn't good! "Over-restored" comes to mind.
 
I don' have an A , but it seems to me you have missed one important point. What about the 'high point' car that is offered for sale after the borrowed items have been removed and inferior parts put back on? Do you suppose all sellers will disclose the fact?
 
BrianCT said:
I don' have an A , but it seems to me you have missed one important point. What about the 'high point' car that is offered for sale after the borrowed items have been removed and inferior parts put back on? Do you suppose all sellers will disclose the fact?
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This happened just a couple of years ago, where a high point coupe was offered for sale.

The seller was very open in disclosing the parts that were not going to be going with the car, and the disclosing the condition of the replacement parts that were to be installed on the car.

So I guess the answer to your question is 'it depends'.
 
When it comes to this, Switching parts on a HIGH point car to sell, YOU the buyer should know what you are buying & what you are looking at... If you dont, take someone with you that does before buying & ask ???... I just went thru this with buying one.. Seller showed picture of car with ORIGINAL round tube radiator & when I got to look at it in person there was no mention made of any change until I ?? it.. He had pulled it & put in a re-pop.. Was giving ORIGINAL to a buddy, he said ??.... Bottom line, Know what you are buying, & looking @..
 
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