12 volt Battery in Battery Box

JD-OHIO

JD-OHIO

Member
I have a 31 S/W Town Sedan. It's been converted to 12 volts. Is there a 12 volt battery the right size for the original battery box so that the original hold downs can still be used? Anyone have any photos showing how you secured your battery in the original box? A group 25 is not wide enough for the original corner brackets to work.
 
JD-OHIO said:
I have a 31 S/W Town Sedan. It's been converted to 12 volts. Is there a 12 volt battery the right size for the original battery box so that the original hold downs can still be used? Anyone have any photos showing how you secured your battery in the original box? A group 25 is not wide enough for the original corner brackets to work.
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Just one of the consequences of playing games with Henry’s design.
 
Made my own hold down. Saw it here on the Forum. It is a curved piece of round steel rod with washers welded to the end to attach to the battery box hold down. Used wooden spacers to position the battery in the box. I believe the battery is a group 24.
 
JD-OHIO said:
A group 25 is not wide enough for the original corner brackets to work.
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McMimmcs said:
Just one of the consequences of playing games with Henry’s design.
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As you can see from this chart the Group 1 6v everyone uses doesn't fit the original size battery box either. The Group 25 12v is the closest I have found... so far.
 
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The A vendors sell brackets for the Optima batteries if you go that route. Also, check if the batteries are designed for various climate extremes based on inner plate parameters.
 
I had a battery box fabricated that works great for my group 25 battery, For a hold-down, I am using the hold-down from a Ford Bronco II that stretches across the middle of the battery.
 
I made my own hold down for an optima battery using aluminum stock and pop rivets I am sure you could do the same for a 12volt battery
 
Here's my homemade hold down for a 12V battery. It's made from a 0.312" diameter steel rod with an oversize hex nut welded to each end of the rod. The finish is POR-15 Chassis Black with an overcoat of Krypton Gloss Black.
 

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Very nice Bob. I am going to fab one similar. One question, why didn't you install it under the battery handle?

Good to see you use the anti-corrosion washers on the battery posts also. A lot of people don't use them. I also have a anti-corrosion pad under the battery. Every little bit helps.
 
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shew01 said:
I’m still fairly new to the hobby. Battery boxes are add-ons, correct? Is this an actual box of some sort? If so, what is the advantage of using it?

My car just has something like this: https://www.brattons.com/battery-box-support.html


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The battery box is not an add on. They came on every Model A made. You have pictured the proper, reproduction battery support that is available from the suppliers. It is made similar to the original.
 
The standard Group 1 they make today is a bit smaller than the box support and hold-down frame that are made, however if you tighten the frame down secure enough it does not move within that space. Ive not had any issues for 20 years.
 
31Tudor said:
The battery box is not an add on. They came on every Model A made. You have pictured the proper, reproduction battery support that is available from the suppliers. It is made similar to the original.
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So, am I missing a battery box? By any chance would you have a picture or a web link?


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Bob Bidonde said:
Here's my homemade hold down for a 12V battery. It's made from a 0.312" diameter steel rod with an oversize hex nut welded to each end of the rod. The finish is POR-15 Chassis Black with an overcoat of Krypton Gloss Black.
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Very professional looking, fine craftsmanship ! You should market it!
 
shew01 said:
So, am I missing a battery box? By any chance would you have a picture or a web link?


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Sorry, i might not have been real clear. The link that you had to Bratton's showing the battery support is all there is. It is a battery support, so not really a "box". If you have the battery support, that came on every Model A frame produced. The battery just sets down in the support. The original battery fit perfect in the support, new ones now are a little smaller so the original hold down clamps don't work as well.
 
Y-Blockhead,
I put my homemade support over the battery's carry strap for some added clamp-up. Yes, it looks like sh..t, but it works.
 
I would think since it appears from the members responses that all the new batteries both 6v and 12v don't fit well in the original supports that by now some replacement manufacturer would have modified their supports they make to fit the new size batteries. Seems to me that there would be a demand since it appears that everyone's Model A would have a support that doesn't fit the new size batteries.
 
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