'37 Battery Hold Down

H

HCO41

Senior Member
I'm finding 2 part numbers for this item at various suppliers. Some list the PN as 51A-5165-B (or A), others are showing 51A-10718. I think they're both the same, what's your take.
One is Job Lot; are they still in business??
Thanks,
Howard
 
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The correct Ford part # for the 1937 Ford battery hold down bracket or clamp is 78-5165-A. I don't know if anyone offers a correct one.Part # 40-5165-A was used on '37 through February than the tab that bolts through to firewall to prevent theft was added making the 78-5165-A1. Lots of thefts must have occurred on '37Fords putting batteries under hood and susceptible to removal for first time.
 
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Thanks 37 coupe and Pete. I knew the one on the car was a repro. so I modified it to use on an Optima box I built. I ran into the different PNs while looking for a replacement. I never saw one with the extra tab ( even in the green book) but the A1 pn is listed. I'll check to see if the firewall on my coupe has the hole for the security bolt. I had looked at Drake's site but missed the one Pete found.
Thanks,
Howard
 
Thanks for the original post .I have not seen a Bob Drake catalog since I finished my coupe going on 10 years now and was unaware of the repro hold down that I will order myself. The one I have been using was bought on Ebay and was one of a few madeup but I always thought not very heavy gauge.
 
Couldn't find 10718 in the parts book but 10715 is a battery cell connector
and 10719 is s battery fill cap tube.

Bob
 
I just checked the firewall behind the battery box on my '37 and it looks like someone welded the security bolt hole closed. The filled hole is in an oval recess. The inside firewall liner is molded to the shape of the oval and has a hole directly behind the welded up hole for access. Looks like the Drake part is right and the other suppliers are selling a generic part that was used through '53. My "green book" dated 1950 shows the following:
51-5165 used on 35-36 trucks
91A-5165 used on '39 deluxe passenger
51A-5165-B used on 33-38 passenger, 39 std. passenger, 33-39
commercial, and 37-39 trucks-including COE.
51A-5165-A used on 41-48 passenger, 41-47 Commercial and trucks inc.
COE.
For now I'm going to go with the generic clamp to have in case I go back to a standard size battery. I can see a problem with the firewall hole lining up with even slight variances in battery size and battery pad thickness. Besides Drake is getting $40 for the right one and the generics are available for less than $20, including shipping.
I miked up the generic hold down I modified and found it to be .075 thick. Seems sturdy enough. This is the place to learn something new. Good discussion. Thanks,
Howard
 
I am using an Optima red top inside a Ford Script battery box.The Optima is the one that is to tall for the box bought years ago from Antique Battery here in Ohio. At this time period they place the battery in the box by removing the bottom. The hold down bracket with the tab in back still fits the firewall hole even with the extra height because the hole is actually a slot I believe and has adjustment or enough clearance.
 
Bob, the 51A-10718 was listed as the hold down in Job Lot's catalog. It's either a misprint or I was looking at it wrong. I'm going to call them today. There was some discussion a while back that they were going out of business. I haven't heard anything since. I'll find out in a few minutes.
Howard
 
I just got off the phone in an attempt to get ahold of Job Lot. The recorded message said they were closed for the holidays and that as of 1-1-16 they are closing down their retail side of the business. They will serve their wholesalers until they finish closing down the entire business. They will be missed.
Howard
 
'37 Coupe, I plan on doing the same thing with a worn out Ford script battery I've got. I noticed that the script battery was not a "tar top" and assumed the modification would require cutting the bottom out of it. I haven't compared the terminal spacing yet, but they look close. I think you posted a picture of your mod., in another post, not long ago. Nice job!! When I get to it, I may get in touch with you with questions. Happy Holidays to all.
Regards,
Howard
 
ford38v8 said:
With the taller Optima, what did you do for the hold down bolts on the sides?
Click to expand...

I forgot about this until you asked. As I remember Old and Tired on here told me who made the repro bolts for Nacewicz. It may have been Jay Temple or someone who helped on the '37 book,again mayby,someone who lives South. Anyway he made me a couple longer bolts,mayby 1/2"
but I had to buy through Nacewicz.
 
HCO41 said:
'37 Coupe, I plan on doing the same thing with a worn out Ford script battery I've got. I noticed that the script battery was not a "tar top" and assumed the modification would require cutting the bottom out of it. I haven't compared the terminal spacing yet, but they look close. I think you posted a picture of your mod., in another post, not long ago. Nice job!! When I get to it, I may get in touch with you with questions. Happy Holidays to all.
Regards,
Howard
Click to expand...

As I posted I didn't modify or make the battery box it was purchased from Antique Auto battery here in Ohio. They are the antique car battery suppliers with an attitude that I hope to never deal with again. I wish Drake or somebody would have a plastic or fiberglass script box made to fit an Optima into. I have found the tar top battery case to be kinda fragile at least the top. I had to get another box just for the top that caved in. I could never find one of the tops that were made of plastic or some kind of phenolic material.
 
37 Coupe said:
I forgot about this until you asked. As I remember Old and Tired on here told me who made the repro bolts for Nacewicz. It may have been Jay Temple or someone who helped on the '37 book,again mayby,someone who lives South. Anyway he made me a couple longer bolts,mayby 1/2"
but I had to buy through Nacewicz.
Click to expand...

Good ol' Roy. Might have known!
 
ford38v8 said:
With the taller Optima, what did you do for the hold down bolts on the sides?
Click to expand...

Here is my home made Optima Battery tie down: Minimal materials with wood, painted Henry Ford Black. I have the original 1937 pieces for the battery.
 

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Jay Temple did make some 37 pickup length battery bolts for Roy. I do not know if Jay is still making them or not. They are two different lengths and both are longer than the passenger car ones. I used to have quite a few NOS ones but I believe I am down to only 3 spares, one pair and a single.
 
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