The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 55 1st 4400 battery question

Our 4400 was converted at some point to 12V. The previous owner was using a homemade battery tray bolted to the firewall in the engine compartment to hold the battery. Looks pretty bad in my opinion. So, we want to move the battery back to where it belongs. Problem is the 12v battery we have is too wide to fit in the origional compartment.

Any one have a suggestion on a battery that will fit in the undercab tray, but still have enough cranking amps for the 235? The tray is in great shape and the cover is also in great shape so it'd be a shame not to use it, right?

Thanks.

A simple way to solve that problem is remove the rear most bracket for the battery tray on the frame, drill new holes in the frame and bolt it back on a few inches farther back.

while you're at it you need to make a new bottom, but the original is probably rusty or mostly gone by now?

If you want to you can also straighten the flanges on the bottom of the battery tray brackets so the bottom is then lower and accepts a taller battery.

Another idea is to hinge the bottom so the battery can be removed from underneath as it will be a tight squeeze out the top.

I used all these methods on my 52 1 ton and fit a larger 12V battery.

Another option is many of the vendors and hod rod places sell drop down battery boxes to replace the original.

Grigg

Grigg -- Surely there's a 12-volt battery out there with sufficient CCA's to fit in that space?

Just a question...

John
Trebuchet Ammo Handler

I don't know... When I bought the 12 volt I used I picked the best choice of many form the shelf from the tractor repair place I worked at the time, it fit the tray as it was but later on I made more room and it was much easier to remove and replace.
If the tray needs repair now is a great time to make some more room.

You can't have to big of a battery (within reason)

Grigg

My '47 has a 12 volt battery under the floor. I've never looked to see whether the tray had been modified or not.
Another thing is to make sure you have good, heavy cables-even with a 12 volt. I replaced mine, and was amazed at how much easier it cranked.

I use a Delco battery in my 48, 6400. I will see if I can get the link to the photo's to work. I put the tape measure in the pic's for reference.
This battery has worked real well for me, no problems starting. It is a Delco ACD25-60. Cold cranking is 560.

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2259161380105657792EHAoLx

Dimensions of 12v batteries:

http://www.gglotus.org/ggtech/battery-bci/battery-bci-size.htm

http://www.1st-optima-batteries.com/

http://www.rtpnet.org/teaa/bcigroup.html

Thanks to all who responded.

Grigg, my tray is in great shape - one of the nice things about AZ is we have very little rust problems

Rich - good idea on the leads. We were having problems starting it a while back until we discoverd the neg lead was almost split in two about half way down. Now it cranks right up!

DTW902 - thanks for the photos. I think that'll fit mine perfect. BTW - very nice truck!

tclederman - thanks for the specs. With the photos that DTW902 provided it'll be easy to find one now.

Thanks again everyone.

Glad to help.

I used the RedTop on my 1951 under the floor: RedTop Battery