6 volt optima

[oldredford]

How do you guys secure the optima battery to the battery tray on a 1940 Ford?

[tubman]

It's not a '40, but on my '51, I bought one of those fake battery cases off of eBay, and put the Optima in it, Then I could use the stock hold down hardware. It took a bit of work to get the case to fit to my satisfaction, and I had to lengthen the hold down bolts, but it ended up working pretty well and it looks a lot better than an Optima just sitting there. The case with shipping was almost $100.00. If I was younger, I would look for a scrap battery case to gut and use.

[4dFord/SC]

I have mine in a Group 2 disguise case, and mount it as normal.

[trainguy]

Originally Posted by tubman

It's not a '40, but on my '51, I bought one of those fake battery cases off of eBay, and put the Optima in it, Then I could use the stock hold down hardware. It took a bit of work to get the case to fit to my satisfaction, and I had to lengthen the hold down bolts, but it ended up working pretty well and it looks a lot better than an Optima just sitting there. The case with shipping was almost $100.00. If I was younger, I would look for a scrap battery case to gut and use.

Thanks for the source,really a slick idea,expensive but I bought one anyway.Phil

[supereal]

I made a wooden box that would fit the tray and hold down. We use bead board for the sides, and routed the cover to resemble the lead-acid type. Painted flat black, most observers don't notice it. I have owned the '47 for twenty years, and installed a new Optima last week. It is only the third one in the car, with the most recent one nine years old. After sitting for six months, it still started the car! Great batteries!

[GB SISSON]

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Originally Posted by supereal

I made a wooden box that would fit the tray and hold down. We use bead board for the sides, and routed the cover to resemble the lead-acid type. Painted flat black, most observers don't notice it. I have owned the '47 for twenty years, and installed a new Optima last week. It is only the third one in the car, with the most recent one nine years old. After sitting for six months, it still started the car! Great batteries!

Do you have a picture of the wood battery cover? Can I assume you used original filler caps? That's right up my alley. I stole the battery out of my AA to use in my panel so I'm gonna tear a page from your book and buy an optima and encase it in wood.

[funrunr]

It looks so small in the compartment and I was in a hurry to get down the road. I used an old leather belt to original hold down bolts. Definitely not fancy but it's working. Lol

[CaliforniaBorn36]

Do you have the source for the fake battery case? I cannot seem to find a listing.

Thanks

[4dFord/SC]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaBorn36

Do you have the source for the fake battery case? I cannot seem to find a listing.

Thanks

Here's one: http://www.tartopper.com/

[tubman]

I got mine from a seller named "woodyscustomshop" on ebay. Like I said, it's a little expensive and needs some work to make it fit perfectly, but mine turned out real nice. The "tartoppers" site seems to only want to deal with group 24 (12 volt) batteries. Also, be aware, ole' Woody is a little touchy. I gave him a positive review, but mentioned in passing that I thought it a little odd that an empty plastic case cost twice as much as a complete new battery, and he spent a good amount of time and effort telling me that my reviews were "snarky".

[ford38v8]

For a show quality battery having an Optima inside, do it yourself. I haven't seen one from a supplier that makes a perfect replica for the Concourse. I had a Ford Script lead/acid battery repro that went dead on me, from which I made my Optima box. A drill press is handy to cut away the inner ribs, and ABS plastic is available to make the top. Just save the tar from the original battery, and the Ford Script cell connectors for the new. No worries about venting if you cut out the bottom and support the Optima at the correct height to match the top. For those who don't have an old dead correct lead/acid battery, consider the cost of a replica case from a supplier against the cost of buying a new replica battery and cutting it open right from the gitgo. This used to work well for any Ford Script case, but the Optima is now 3/8" taller, so a 2LF battery case is short, requiring a skirt around the bottom. The later 2HF cases work just fine.

[wspiker]

Mine, for my '40 Ford, is in an 'original' looking Ford case I purchased through C & G Ford Parts in San Diego (Escondido), CA