Relocation 1935-36 battery to firewall

[nospartsman]

When I bought this 1936 Roadster the battery was located in the rumble seat floor and the car still had the cutout generator and the battery was constantly going dead. I've been driving the wheels off this car and knowing I would get caught driving at night I decided to convert to 12 volt with alternator (camouflage powermaster) and halogen lights from Drake and I'm very satisfied with night vision with this conversion kit.
I didn't want to go back to the under floor battery location. At first I thought I would copy the 1940 Ford but it was too tight, so I came up with this. I had two requirements, get it away from engine heat and (the V8 religious police may approve) I didn't want to put any additional holes in the firewall. I used 3 of the insulation nail holes which hold the battery very secure with 1/4 inch bolts. Although I haven't been on the PanAmerican road race yet. Three straps converge to one bolt on top and two straps bolted on the bottom. I laid the battery on its side because it was a little close to the hood top, if I made another tray I would extend it forward and it would allow more clearance. I put masking tape on the support straps to show up for the photos. Forgot to mention on the inside of the firewall I cut some tubing for the bolts to compensate for the thickness of the insulation and a flat washer to hold in place.
*No Ford sheet metal was harmed in the moving of this battery.

[SofaKing]

It looks like a good design that was well executed. I will be conjuring-up a battery restraint shortly myself, I may steal, uh I mean be inspired by yours.

[Bill Wright]

Well done!

[19Fordy]

Oh my goodness! I can't believe anyone would do that.
Looks like an old stock car or a demolition derby special..
Please get rid of that mess and put your battery in the trunk.
I know. It's your car and you can do what you want, but no 36 deserves that "rig" ruining its firewall.

[nospartsman]

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

Oh my goodness. Can't believe anyone would do that.
Looks like an old stock car or a demolition derby special..
Please get rid of that mess and put your battery in the trunk.
I know. It's your car and you can do what you want, but no 36 deserves that "rig".

I agree it's not pretty, it looks a lot better when the hood is closed.

[19Fordy]

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Thanks for the reply.
PLEASE consider moving it to the trunk. You will be pleased
having a nice looking firewall.
http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27672

[SofaKing]

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

Thanks for the reply.
PLEASE consider moving it to the trunk. You will be pleased
having a nice looking firewall.

I see a design that is lightweight, rigid, supported by a repeating series of triangulated structure, can be removed with 3 bolts, caused no permanent modification, holds the battery firmly with a hinged steel strap and single fixed bolt that can't get lost, locates the battery where it is convenient, has short cables that are lighter, accessible, less voltage drop and less chance for shorts or corrosion and frees-up the rumbleseat. The single sacrifice is it blocks the view of empty sheetmetal on the firewall when the hood is open. For a guy driving the "wheels off it" that seems like a reasonable trade-off.

[nospartsman]

Originally Posted by SofaKing

I see a design that is lightweight, rigid, supported by a repeating series of triangulated structure, can be removed with 3 bolts, caused no permanent modification, holds the battery firmly with a hinged steel strap and single fixed bolt that can't get lost, locates the battery where it is convenient, has short cables that are lighter, accessible, less voltage drop and less chance for shorts or corrosion and frees-up the rumbleseat. The single sacrifice is it blocks the view of empty sheetmetal on the firewall when the hood is open. For a guy driving the "wheels off it" that seems like a reasonable trade-off.

I think he was joking, but thanks for the observations.

[farmboy]

Looks great, thinking bout doing the same to my 36 truck

[Brendan]

Originally Posted by farmboy

Looks great, thinking bout doing the same to my 36 truck

why! keep it where Hennery put it

[TJ]

Why not put it under the passenger side front fender. They make a "drop down" battery box that attaches to the frame at the at the rear portion of the fender. Speedway Motors has them. It puts the battery close to the starter and you don't see it.

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by TJ

Why not put it under the passenger side front fender. They make a "drop down" battery box that attaches to the frame at the at the rear portion of the fender. Speedway Motors has them. It puts the battery close to the starter and you don't see it.

Easy access might be an issue.

[dwaynec]

Personally I think that the OPs solution is pretty nice. It scratched his itch to get the battery out of the rumbleseat and have it easy to access in a driver car. No new holes were punched in the firewall so if the desire were there he could move the battery to its original location under the floor or any place else and there is no permanent damage to the firewall.

[TJ]

Originally Posted by JSeery

Easy access might be an issue.

That's why it drops down for better access.

[19Fordy]

"Just because you can, doesn't mean you should."
Would the Antique Automobile Association call that battery box location "Car Abuse"?

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by 19fordy

"just because you can, doesn't mean you should."
would the antique automobile association call that battery box location "car abuse".

lol

[36tudordeluxe]

I really don't think it should go on the firewall, mine's behind the back seat and never regretted it.

[barnfind]

I agree with 19Fordy.
The 36 firewall is almost beautiful - I would buy some welding cable and put it in the trunk.

[30-9]

There's a good reason why there are so many different cars (new and old) on the road. The reason: Every one has their own taste.

Nospartsman put a lot of time and effort into his build (not to mention time spent uploading pics). As long as he likes it, that's all that matters.

Well done Nospartman, stick with what you like.

[JM 35 Sedan]

I just removed a similar battery holding box from the same location on the firewall of my '35 5w coupe. The previous owner put it there many years ago, probably because the bottom of the original batery mounting brackets, under the drivers side of the floor pan, had rotted away. He could have repaired the damage on those brackets, or just replaced them, but instead drilled new holes through a nice previously unmolested firewall that I will now need to repair. If you mount a maintenance free battery in the original box, under the floor, there is basically no need to worry about maintaining it, or am I missing something here?
The battery mount that nospartsman designed, built and installed is certainly sturdy enough for the job and didn't require drilling any new holes (I don't think), BUT, in my opinion, it is right in the way of working on the engine, and to me, just does not look like it belongs there. However, if he is happy with it, I recon that's really all that matters.

Edit: Here are a few pictures of a nice original '35 5w coupe that I bought everal years ago, with what I would consider a MONSTER of a battery and box, placed right where, IMHO, it didn't belong. It has since been removed and the reminents of same can be had by any Fordbarner who wants them, just for the cost of shipping.
Sorry nospartsman, I am not trying to offend you, nor knock the nice job you did at making and mounting your battery box, BUT....my 6V Optima Red Top Battery will go right back where Ol' Henry placed his original battery in 1935 .