The Ford Barn

California Charlie · 12-19-2010, 01:24 PM

I bought a Model A seveal years ago and found the Battery Holder installed on the firewall in the engine compartment rather than under the floorboards. I long since sold this car, but have another 30's car (not a Model A) that I want to move the battery from under the floorboards and install it on the firewall. Is there a source for this, or are they all handmade items? Thanks, CC

Tom Wesenberg · 12-19-2010, 01:53 PM

I've only seen homemade holders, but this isn't a good idea. Moving the battery to the firewall will raise the center of gravity, move more weight forward and raise the temperature around the battery. Engine heat is bad for batteries.

Tom Endy · 12-19-2010, 01:57 PM

If you move the battery location you will need to obtain a longer power cable. If your car is 6-volts, you will more than likely only find a 12-volt power cable, which is not stout enough to carry the starter current.

Tom Endy

1931 flamingo · 12-19-2010, 02:07 PM

You could make a new cable out of welding cable, 0 or 1 ga I believe.
Paul in CT

Cool Hand Lurker · 12-19-2010, 02:21 PM

Well, since it is not going to be original you could make whatever box or rack you wanted and place it wherever you wanted. I would suggest on the side of the engine compartment opposite where the exhaust manifold is located. But putting the battery in the engine compartment takes up a lot of room and it gets in the way. No matter where you put it, you will have to eventually fix something that is exactly right behind the battery! It always happens.

You might consider using a 6 volt Optima gell-cell battery. They can be mounted in any position and are only half the width of a regular battery. They don't need maintenance so they could be put under the floorboards in the stock location and forgotten for the most part. That would be the easiest.

Charlie Stephens · 12-19-2010, 04:07 PM

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Charlie,

You might get better responses if you told us what car you are talking about. Starting witth that information someone might have suggestions.

Charlie Stephens

JD Miller · 12-19-2010, 05:12 PM

I would not be too concerned with putting the battery under the hood. Now, sure would not do it on a Model A Ford.

However, since at least 1946, or sometime earlier, manufacturers have installed the battery under the hood. Center of gravity, heat, etc. sure doesn't seem to be a concern.

Mike V. Florida · 12-19-2010, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by California Charlie

... I want to move the battery from under the floorboards and install it on the firewall. Is there a source for this, or are they all handmade items? Thanks, CC

I have to ask, what is the reason?

James Rogers · 12-19-2010, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by California Charlie

I bought a Model A seveal years ago and found the Battery Holder installed on the firewall in the engine compartment rather than under the floorboards. I long since sold this car, but have another 30's car (not a Model A) that I want to move the battery from under the floorboards and install it on the firewall. Is there a source for this, or are they all handmade items? Thanks, CC

Try finding one from a 55 Chevy. That one was mounted on the firewall. I think a 49-53 Chevy truck is too.

Tinker · 12-19-2010, 07:12 PM

Just did the opposite. Looks a look cleaner. Holder looks aftermarket or for another vehicle. Cables length are about the same before and after I moved the battery. Replaced with 2/0 welding cable. Has a solenoid and kept it at this point.

Pilotdave · 12-19-2010, 11:33 PM

Though not original equipment, I have been able to find 0 gauge cables at the local NAPA shop with plenty of length for either under the hood or the floor battery location. Is ease of access the reason for moving the battery?

California Charlie · 12-20-2010, 01:27 AM

In response to the question as to what car I would be putting it on, it's a 1933 Chevrolet that I have. I have more Model "A"s however and I'll continue to keep their batteries under the floorboard. I'm a Ford person, but just couldn't pass up on the Chevy. Thanks for everyones response.

John LaVoy · 12-20-2010, 09:23 AM

You may want to look at Painless, or Speedway they may have what you want. I saw a variety of boxes at the last SEMA show.

TK in LA · 12-20-2010, 09:47 AM

'41 to '48 Fords all had the batteries mounted to the firewall on the passenger side. Reproductions are readily available. Good Luck!
Tom

Special Coupe Frank · 12-20-2010, 10:06 AM

" I think a 49-53 Chevy truck is [under the hood] too. "

Chevy trucks had them under the floor through first-series '55 ( carried-over '54 ).

'55 Task-Force were the first year Chevy truck had battery under the hood.

A buddy has a '40 Chevy car, and that has the battery under the hood, down low, between firewall and starter. Don't know when they relocated them on the cars.

I never felt a big need to move the battery out from under the floor of my old Chevy trucks, or my Model A...

I never need to get to it, aside from the occasional check on the hold-down, terminals, fluid level.

Your results may vary.

In a Model A, I would think the only place to put it would on the firewall, over the steering gear.

12-19-2010, 01:24 PM	#1
California Charlie Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 157	Battery holder in engine compartment I bought a Model A seveal years ago and found the Battery Holder installed on the firewall in the engine compartment rather than under the floorboards. I long since sold this car, but have another 30's car (not a Model A) that I want to move the battery from under the floorboards and install it on the firewall. Is there a source for this, or are they all handmade items? Thanks, CC

12-19-2010, 01:53 PM	#2
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Battery holder in engine compartment I've only seen homemade holders, but this isn't a good idea. Moving the battery to the firewall will raise the center of gravity, move more weight forward and raise the temperature around the battery. Engine heat is bad for batteries. Last edited by Tom Wesenberg; 12-19-2010 at 02:10 PM.

12-19-2010, 01:57 PM	#3
Tom Endy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,131	Re: Battery holder in engine compartment If you move the battery location you will need to obtain a longer power cable. If your car is 6-volts, you will more than likely only find a 12-volt power cable, which is not stout enough to carry the starter current. Tom Endy

12-19-2010, 02:07 PM	#4
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,390	Re: Battery holder in engine compartment You could make a new cable out of welding cable, 0 or 1 ga I believe. Paul in CT

12-19-2010, 02:21 PM	#5
Cool Hand Lurker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: So Minn Posts: 1,565	Re: Battery holder in engine compartment Well, since it is not going to be original you could make whatever box or rack you wanted and place it wherever you wanted. I would suggest on the side of the engine compartment opposite where the exhaust manifold is located. But putting the battery in the engine compartment takes up a lot of room and it gets in the way. No matter where you put it, you will have to eventually fix something that is exactly right behind the battery! It always happens. You might consider using a 6 volt Optima gell-cell battery. They can be mounted in any position and are only half the width of a regular battery. They don't need maintenance so they could be put under the floorboards in the stock location and forgotten for the most part. That would be the easiest.

12-19-2010, 04:07 PM	#6
Charlie Stephens Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,033	Re: Battery holder in engine compartment Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Charlie, You might get better responses if you told us what car you are talking about. Starting witth that information someone might have suggestions. Charlie Stephens

12-19-2010, 05:12 PM	#7
JD Miller Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Yorktown, VA Posts: 139	Re: Battery holder in engine compartment I would not be too concerned with putting the battery under the hood. Now, sure would not do it on a Model A Ford. However, since at least 1946, or sometime earlier, manufacturers have installed the battery under the hood. Center of gravity, heat, etc. sure doesn't seem to be a concern.

12-19-2010, 07:12 PM	#10
Tinker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: MN Posts: 7,053	Re: Battery holder in engine compartment Just did the opposite. Looks a look cleaner. Holder looks aftermarket or for another vehicle. Cables length are about the same before and after I moved the battery. Replaced with 2/0 welding cable. Has a solenoid and kept it at this point.

12-19-2010, 11:33 PM	#11
Pilotdave Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Grafton, MA Posts: 1,226	Re: Battery holder in engine compartment Though not original equipment, I have been able to find 0 gauge cables at the local NAPA shop with plenty of length for either under the hood or the floor battery location. Is ease of access the reason for moving the battery?

12-20-2010, 01:27 AM	#12
California Charlie Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 157	Re: Battery holder in engine compartment In response to the question as to what car I would be putting it on, it's a 1933 Chevrolet that I have. I have more Model "A"s however and I'll continue to keep their batteries under the floorboard. I'm a Ford person, but just couldn't pass up on the Chevy. Thanks for everyones response.

12-20-2010, 09:23 AM	#13
John LaVoy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rocklin, CA Posts: 1,219	Re: Battery holder in engine compartment You may want to look at Painless, or Speedway they may have what you want. I saw a variety of boxes at the last SEMA show.

12-20-2010, 09:47 AM	#14
TK in LA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: La Verne, Ca. Posts: 827	Re: Battery holder in engine compartment '41 to '48 Fords all had the batteries mounted to the firewall on the passenger side. Reproductions are readily available. Good Luck! Tom

12-20-2010, 10:06 AM	#15
Special Coupe Frank Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northeast Penna Posts: 2,108	Re: Battery holder in engine compartment " I think a 49-53 Chevy truck is [under the hood] too. " Chevy trucks had them under the floor through first-series '55 ( carried-over '54 ). '55 Task-Force were the first year Chevy truck had battery under the hood. A buddy has a '40 Chevy car, and that has the battery under the hood, down low, between firewall and starter. Don't know when they relocated them on the cars. I never felt a big need to move the battery out from under the floor of my old Chevy trucks, or my Model A... I never need to get to it, aside from the occasional check on the hold-down, terminals, fluid level. Your results may vary. In a Model A, I would think the only place to put it would on the firewall, over the steering gear.