1926 battery box question

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2013: 1926 battery box question
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Enos Wiseman on Sunday, June 16, 2013 - 07:04 pm:

I have a rusted battery box on my 26 touring. I don't know if this is what the original looked like or even if this is the original one. It has no bottom,but maybe it once did. It also has the usual piece of wood. Any assistance is greatly appreciated.My rusted battery box


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erich Bruckner, Vancouver, WA on Sunday, June 16, 2013 - 07:12 pm:

My 26 touring has a cradle thing, not a box.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Enos Wiseman on Sunday, June 16, 2013 - 07:17 pm:

Thanks:
Mine has the cradle thing and this fits around the battery inside the cradle.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George_Cherry Hill NJ on Sunday, June 16, 2013 - 08:26 pm:

Enos,

That's probably what is left of the 5158/7671 Battery Box.

It slides in the picture frame bracket, it had a cover and cover clamps at one time. Somewhat hard to find the parts today, covers seem to have been chucked early on....boxes tend to look like yours.

There are repro boxes available, but they don't come close to original and usually require some nibbling.

Most just go get a scrap of thick lumber and put in bottom of the bracket, lay the modern Class 1 battery in. Works, but not wise...need to also find a way to hold the battery in as they 'jump' due to the superior suspension available only on Ford T.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Sunday, June 16, 2013 - 10:18 pm:

That is indeed the remains of a battery box, and yes, the repros are not correct, nor will an original Ford battery fit into one. I had a bunch made up a year ago, and gave them all away to eager T restorers. I can get some more made if there is any interest, and they will be exactly as original. The problem is, you will have to find an original top, which are not made correctly either. The tops show up at swap meets from time to time.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Enos Wiseman on Sunday, June 16, 2013 - 10:20 pm:

Thanks:
I didn't know if this one was original or not but there is very little rust on the rest of the car so it's probably the original one.The battery hold downs are still in good working condition.
Thanks again


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Sunday, June 16, 2013 - 10:27 pm:

I forgot to mention, the covers up to and including 1924 have rounded edges. The '25-27 covers have square edges. Is that what yours has?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Enos Wiseman on Sunday, June 16, 2013 - 10:47 pm:

There was no cover just what is in the picture.That slid down around the battery and sat on the piece of wood. There are battery hold downs attached to the battery cradle.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donald Vagasky,Tucson on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 08:41 am:

Enos,I make these Battery Boxes, bottoms only. Close to you, they are available at Langes.
Battery Box
Battery Box1


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Scherzer on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 10:20 am:

I have pretty good original battery box as shown here.

battery box

I later sand blasted it and took measurement to show here a few years back. They aren't too hard to make one if you have some sheet metal tools like a shear plus a box and pan brake. I have more pictures of it if needed. Bob

battery box

battery box

battery box

battery box


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ken Todd on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 11:50 am:

"They aren't too hard to make one if you have some sheet metal tools like a shear plus a box and pan brake."

Would be nice.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Dewey, N. California on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 11:57 am:

So, what holds the box, the top band? Is it more to protect the battery case than to keep the battery in place? The Model A "case" is open, with a metal plate spot welded to the bottom, maybe Ford decided a protective case wasn't needed??


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ken Kopsky, Lytle TX on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 07:19 pm:

Battery hold down clamps hold the box to the bracket. That's why the quick open access panel on top.

Here's a clamp set for 19-23 as sold by Langs.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Allan Richard Bennett on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 07:29 pm:

Fellows, just for interest. On the occasional battery box remnant I have found on our Canadian sourced cars, the sides of the box are folded in one piece. There is only one join, on one corner. Probably easier to make and assemble, and less likely to fall to pieces.

Allan from down under.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Enos Wiseman on Monday, June 17, 2013 - 08:11 pm:

Thanks:
Just came in from cruising my Touring.Beautiful warm day so went topless. I just have the wood there and works fine but will definitely have to get one of the above boxes or have one made. Mine is a USA car from Connecticut and has two joins.I know a good sheet metal place so I think I'll take the remains of mine in there. Will keep you posted.
Thanks


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Tuesday, June 18, 2013 - 12:50 am:

If you are going to use a modern battery in an original battery box, there are a few things you need to know. First, the Ford battery supported the front and back of the lid or cover. So, you must make some kind of support for each end of the battery, or the clamps pictured above will not work. What I did was I got a piece of square box tubing, and sawed it diagonally across. I cut each piece to 5 or 6 inches long. These pieces will lay on each end of the battery. Next make up two handles to resemble the original for battery handles, and weld or braze them to the angle iron pieces you just cut. This will make the battery box think you have an original battery in it. Works for me, and that is what I have in my '25 right now.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Allan Richard Bennett on Tuesday, June 18, 2013 - 01:22 am:

Enos, the battery needs to be located within the box rather than be allowed to move about. I use a piece of thick plywood in the base of the box to get the top of the battery about level with the top of the box. My battery is narrower than the box so I made a couple of tapered wooden wedges to keep it central.

The clamps shown hold the battery box lid down on the battery which in turn holds the battery down in the box. Accordingly, you need a spacer between the battery and the lid to stop the lid being jammed down on the terminals. I use wood blocks as they are not conductive if they get loose, and they do not suffer corrosion in the same way that metal does.

Hope this helps,

Allan from down under.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Enos Wiseman on Tuesday, June 18, 2013 - 06:43 am:

Allan and Larry, thanks for the advice. I was wondering what to do about the top. I know with the new battery size there is a lot of movement so I was going to use sheets of Styrofoam slid down around to tighten it and still wouldn't damage the battery if movement occurred.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Tuesday, June 18, 2013 - 10:14 am:

I'm not sure if all 6 volt batteries are the same size, but as Allan noted above, you need to raise the battery up so it will be level with the top of the battery box. You will most likely have to put thin pieces of plywood along side of the battery to keep it from moving around inside the battery box. It's a good idea too, to install the sleeve over the positive battery cable where it passes over the battery box. That is what Ford did.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Scherzer on Tuesday, June 18, 2013 - 10:35 am:

I did similar to what Larry said only with placing two wooden stripes at each side so the top didn't get pushed down to make a possible contact with the positive post when the clamps get tightened down to the point the side tabs on the top cover give in. Bob


battery box

Here's the two tools that make this project an easy one.

Squaring shear

battery box

Box and pan brake.

battery box


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Enos Wiseman on Tuesday, June 18, 2013 - 08:47 pm:

I don't have any of these tools but know a guy who does. Brought the old box today and more of the above pictures tomorrow. I'm thinking stainless,not sure if that'll work but it won't rust.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Wednesday, June 19, 2013 - 11:22 am:

Bob: Can you post a picture of the tool that makes the two special joints? I think Russ Furstnow posted a photo a while back of a NOS battery box he found. That makes two of us! I can also post pictures of the early and late style battery covers if anyone is interested.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Scherzer on Thursday, June 20, 2013 - 08:03 am:

Larry its called a bar fold. I don't have one but I can still make this bend with my box and pan brake if I watch with a little care on my set up and measurements. Bob



battery box


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Les Schubert on Thursday, June 20, 2013 - 06:23 pm:

Bob
OK all good on the box (and I have the tools). How about the lid? I have a bead roller and have made some fenders etc. Looks to me like I should be able to make the lid if I had some good dimensions.

Allan
That is interesting about the Canadian version. I need to keep that in mind.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Les Schubert on Thursday, June 20, 2013 - 06:31 pm:

Is the cover shown the "square edge" version or the "round edge" version?

Allan
On the "Canadian" version what do you know about the covers?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Allan Richard Bennett on Thursday, June 20, 2013 - 07:59 pm:

Les, I have found two different styles of battery box covers on our Canadian cars. One is just like that posted in Bob's photo of his original cover. It has sharp bends along the sides and square corners.

A second one I have/had featured rounded bends along the sides and consequently had curved, mitred corners. It's a bit like corners on 13 roadster turtledeck.

Both had the same type of inspection plate.

Hope this is clear.

Allan from down under.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Friday, June 21, 2013 - 01:26 pm:

Here are two photos of original battery covers. The rounded corners are for 1924 on back, and the square one is for 1925-27. The square one is NOS. They used to be plentiful, but haven't been so plentiful lately.Battery Box Cover


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Friday, June 21, 2013 - 04:12 pm:

Here is a picture of an original battery box installation in an unrestored '25 touring. The battery is the new style rubber case battery that replaced the wood case battery in 1925.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Les Schubert on Saturday, June 22, 2013 - 05:21 pm:

Larry
Thank you for all the great information. My internet has been down due to all the rain we have been having. It is finally back up now.


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