Help me figure out why my battery does not fit, 36 Ford Coupe

[Big Z]

Hi Guys, I need your help, I bought a new battery for my 36 coupe and it does not fit under the cover. Was the original battery a side post? The box looks oem. I am confused.

[mfagan]

Original battery was a conventional top
Post battery per your configuration.

I just bought a new battery for my 34
5 window and have the same problem.

I think our batteries are just too tall.

[jkeesey]

Where did you get your battery from? I use carquest group 1 6v and have never had a fitment problem.

[Ed Pitts]

The original batteries were shorter than what you have. The solution that I used was to lower the battery support and then the new battery will fit. Ed

[Don Rogers]

You need a low profile battery to fit under the floor board. See dimensions of original battery below. Larry Cossar makes a special cover for hi-profile batteries. See below also.

[VeryTangled]

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Hey BigZ, as others have reported, the modern 6V battery case is just taller than the one that came in the car. We went out of the way to get the low-profile model. Since I'm not the parts-guy on the team I'm not sure what the supplier was, pro'ly NAPA because they are the closest parts house to the garage. It may have been an Interstate model also. Since you've already got the battery I guess that horse is out of the barn.

Lowering the battery holder is one option. Personally I like Larry's fix. He's a straight-up guy. I took these photos of his stall at the 2011 Hershey meet. Since he was advertising there, I hope he doesn't mind me passing along the info here...

A lot of the battery covers were tossed away because of this problem! We had to have the one for our car fabricated. Also, be gentle with those weird Y shaped hold-down bolts, they are not available at the local parts house.

Thanks for keepin' it 6V.

-VT/Jeff

P.S.- These scooters are the s*hit at Hershey's Flea Market!

P.P.S.- There's another one of those girls who'd let you have seventeen engine blocks and even watch your flea-market space while you're off playing with the boys! Priceless!

[JM 35 Sedan]

Another option may be to use a 6v red top Optima battery and make a lowering plate that fits on the original battery mounting rails. This lowers the battery enough to use the original cover. This is a completely bolt in option that can all be removed quickly and converted back to an original 2LF battery for those who worry about loosing car show points.

PS...to those who think that is a battery cable hanging down in a poor location, that is actually the battery tender cables that happen to be there during a maintenance charge that I don't even feel is required now with an Optima battery...may be JMO.

[Kerk]

idid nthe same as JM 35 SEDAN and I did not modify anything in the original battery mounts. Mine is a snap fit with no drilling or welding on the original mounts. Could go back to original in the time it takes to disconnect the battery and remove it! I will never go back to a lead acid battery.

[Lawrie]

John, your right about not needing the bat tender,my 34 can sit for 3 months and will just start as easy as with the optima,never so with a lead acid bat,no problem with the 33 as it is used every other day.
Lawrie

[KiWinUS]

As i stated in an earlier post today ... I have a 6volt optima in my 36 with stock battery floor cover & did not modify or make any lowering device!!!
I simply laid it over on its side . Been that way for 6 years & started just fine today !!! just as Lawrie says above. Took her for a cruise!
Too easy !
Cheers
Tony

[JM 35 Sedan]

Originally Posted by Big Z

Hi Guys, I need your help, I bought a new battery for my 36 coupe and it does not fit under the cover. Was the original battery a side post? The box looks oem. I am confused.

Looking at the height of your battery relative to the floor, it's questionable in my mind whether Larry Cossar's raised battery door/cover would even provide enough clearance between those battery posts/cable terminals. There have been some recent threads here on this same problem. I would suggest doing a search and finding those threads to see what some other solutions may have been.

Edit....just realized that this original post is almost two years old. Big Z probably got this sorted out many moons ago.

[13clicks]

I have a optima 6v and its sitting in there just fine. I made a raised top for under my floor mat. Easy. Done quick n cheap.

[V8 Bob]

Originally Posted by Kerk

.............I will never go back to a lead acid battery.

Originally Posted by Lawrie

John, your right about not needing the bat tender,my 34 can sit for 3 months and will just start as easy as with the optima,never so with a lead acid bat,no problem with the 33 as it is used every other day.
Lawrie

JFYI, an Optima is a lead-acid battery, but in AGM construction, not wet cell.

[Chris]

You can buy an 6V battery for an early VW and they will fit under the floor.

[FrankWest]

I bought the 210$ ford reproduction battery for my 1933 because everyother battery was 1/4 too tall. The ford reproduction batter just fits...Those guys at ford shoe horned this thing like it was the space shuttle! I later got an optima because it was advertised as being shorter than the ford but when it arrived it was taller.. I could just scream!

[36Bill]

I also use the early VW battery, it fits and works great.

Bill

[JM 35 Sedan]

Originally Posted by 36Bill

I also use the early VW battery, it fits and works great.

Bill

What is the Cold Cranking Amp (CCA) rating on that 6V VW battery? Fit is certainly important, but funtion, reliability, etc., over some reasonable period of time is also important, at least it is to me. I know the Optima battery has ~ 800 + CCA rating.

[Larry in NH]

Originally Posted by JM 35 Sedan

Looking at the height of your battery relative to the floor, it's questionable in my mind whether Larry Cossar's raised battery door/cover would even provide enough clearance between those battery posts/cable terminals. There have been some recent threads here on this same problem. I would suggest doing a search and finding those threads to see what some other solutions may have been.

Edit....just realized that this original post is almost two years old. Big Z probably got this sorted out many moons ago.

John,

There is ample clearance to connect the original battery cables to the posts on the new Optima. You need to insulate the bottom of the new cover with a piece of rubber say rubber roofing material.
Spent a good bit of time coming up with a minimum workable dimension.
If there is interest from people for a cover contact me as I will need to have another batch made up as the last one on the shelf is going out the door this week.
I still have the original cover on my 36 roadster. 10 years now.
Contact me at [email protected]

Happy V8ing ! Larry

[Bruce/CT]

Can I get more specifics on the 6 Volt VW battery? Is there a type number?
Thanks,.
Bruce

[36Bill]

The VW battery is a 19L I think. I got mine from NAPA and said cranking amps are 560, not sure about CCA. It has always started my stock 221 no problem. What was the rating on the Ford stock battery, anyone know?

Bill