Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-23-2018, 11:22 AM   #1
Gerald cook
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 41
Default Floor boards

I have a question about the hole in the floor board for the battery access. I’m guessing in the past it was to add water to the battery cells? It’s not as important as it use to be can I seal it up with no adverse affects? Jerry
Gerald cook is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-23-2018, 11:41 AM   #2
WHN
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Connecticut Shoreline
Posts: 1,815
Default Re: Floor boards

I guess if you have a battery in your car that does not need service, you wouldn’t need the access. If your floorboard has the hole, do you have the metal cover that goes over it?

It takes some time to remove floorboard screws to get at battery. That’s why the battery service opening is there. Enjoy.
WHN is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 05-23-2018, 12:25 PM   #3
Benson
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,579
Default Re: Floor boards

Depending upon where your battery terminal bolts are located with respect to the hole in floor board, it is nice to just flip back the carpet or mat then pull the metal cover and unhook one battery cable without removing the 10 or twelve screws in the lower floor board.

This is really nice if there is an electrical fire and you must unhook battery to stop it!

Every second counts in this situation!!

Do not ask how I know this!

Let me just say that the first thing I did to Coupe in 1962 was repair a small leak in the gas gauge with gas dripping down behind the panel.

The insulation on the wiring was all frayed with wiring exposed ... When I unhooked the speedo / instrument panel and moved it; the fire immediately started.

The gas fire was not too big but the electrical fire was big time bad news!

More smoke than a Huey with an electrical fire inside the cabin.

The second thing after replacing all the wiring was to install a fuse so it would not happen again.

I enlarged the hole in floorboard near the rear battery terminal for just this reason.

In addition sometimes the starter switch sticks and it is nice to turn off the spinning starter in a hurry.

Last edited by Benson; 05-23-2018 at 12:39 PM.
Benson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-23-2018, 12:51 PM   #4
SeaSlugs
Senior Member
 
SeaSlugs's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Central, IL
Posts: 3,968
Default Re: Floor boards

Quote:
Originally Posted by WHN View Post
I guess if you have a battery in your car that does not need service, you wouldn’t need the access. If your floorboard has the hole, do you have the metal cover that goes over it?

It takes some time to remove floorboard screws to get at battery. That’s why the battery service opening is there. Enjoy.
yup - batteries havent changed a whole heck of alot over the years, they still need the water checked and topped off occasionally.
__________________
1929 Model AA - Need long splash aprons!
SeaSlugs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-23-2018, 02:10 PM   #5
slammin
Senior Member
 
slammin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Fruita, CO
Posts: 281
Default Re: Floor boards

Quote:
Originally Posted by Benson View Post
Depending upon where your battery terminal bolts are located with respect to the hole in floor board, it is nice to just flip back the carpet or mat then pull the metal cover and unhook one battery cable without removing the 10 or twelve screws in the lower floor board.

This is really nice if there is an electrical fire and you must unhook battery to stop it!
That's the main reason to install a shutoff switch in the battery ground cable.
slammin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-23-2018, 07:08 PM   #6
Dick Steinkamp
Senior Member
 
Dick Steinkamp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Bellingham, WA
Posts: 1,163
Default Re: Floor boards

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Quote:
Originally Posted by SeaSlugs View Post
yup - batteries havent changed a whole heck of alot over the years, they still need the water checked and topped off occasionally.
Actually most batteries sold today are either sealed, AGM, or gel and require no maintenance. In fact there is no way you could add water if you wanted to.
__________________
All steel from pedal to wheel
Dick Steinkamp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-23-2018, 07:14 PM   #7
WHN
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Connecticut Shoreline
Posts: 1,815
Default Re: Floor boards

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dick Steinkamp View Post
Actually most batteries sold today are either sealed, AGM, or gel and require no maintenance. In fact there is no way you could add water if you wanted to.
Are you talking about 6 volt Model A batteries?

I just bought one. Looked around at local auto and tractor supply houses. They all were selling ones needing distilled water and acid.

Got mine at a Tractor Supply.
WHN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2018, 09:17 AM   #8
burner31
Senior Member
 
burner31's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Shawnee, Ok
Posts: 3,471
Default Re: Floor boards

Just leave the plate there and call it sealed.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IM006764.jpg (71.1 KB, 108 views)
File Type: jpg DSC00016.jpg (47.9 KB, 104 views)
__________________
Keith
Shawnee OK
'31 SW 160-B
burner31 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2018, 10:17 AM   #9
SeaSlugs
Senior Member
 
SeaSlugs's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Central, IL
Posts: 3,968
Default Re: Floor boards

Quote:
Originally Posted by WHN View Post
Are you talking about 6 volt Model A batteries?

I just bought one. Looked around at local auto and tractor supply houses. They all were selling ones needing distilled water and acid.

Got mine at a Tractor Supply.
yup - i haven't seen a normal 6v battery yet that didnt have the water caps.

Even some batteries that looked sealed arent really - they just have big rectangular caps over the fill holes.
__________________
1929 Model AA - Need long splash aprons!
SeaSlugs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2018, 10:51 AM   #10
Dick Steinkamp
Senior Member
 
Dick Steinkamp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Bellingham, WA
Posts: 1,163
Default Re: Floor boards

Quote:
Originally Posted by SeaSlugs View Post
yup - batteries havent changed a whole heck of alot over the years, they still need the water checked and topped off occasionally.
Slug, I don't want to beat this to death, but I was responding to your quote above.

If you were actually referring to batteries that look and fit like the original batteries in our Model As, you are absolutely correct. Although there are maintenance free battery alternatives for our As, most do not look original and may require a different hold down than stock.
__________________
All steel from pedal to wheel
Dick Steinkamp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2018, 12:50 PM   #11
Steve Wastler
Senior Member
 
Steve Wastler's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,987
Default Re: Floor boards

6 volt tractor battery’s at tractor supply still twist on caps to add water or acid to top off just bought one 3 weeks ago, $79.00. I prefer this type of serviceable battery better fwiw....
Steve Wastler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-28-2018, 03:34 PM   #12
Galaxiedan
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Citrus Springs, FL
Posts: 7
Default Re: Floor boards

Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Wastler View Post
6 volt tractor battery’s at tractor supply still twist on caps to add water or acid to top off just bought one 3 weeks ago, $79.00. I prefer this type of serviceable battery better fwiw....
you wouldnt happen to have the part number for that battery?
Galaxiedan is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:02 AM.