MTFCA Forum

Is there an easy way to remove the battery from a 27 roadster? I'm thinking about getting a running board battery box like you see on TTs to allow easier access in the future. Pro's and cons?

Richard,

My best answer is that there isn’t an easy way. I use a son or grandson for my trunk work. As far as a running board mount, I prefer the original location with a maintenance free AGM battery.

A battery carrier or strap really helps lifting a battery and installing a battery

A good battery replacement solution to substantially reduce weight, eliminate periodic cleaning and adding water to the battery, and get about double the service life, or more, is to install an Optima Red Top 6 volt battery. To assure best results, replace your stock generator cutout with one of the identical looking electronic regulators. I just replaced an 11-year-old Optima battery in my T. It still started the car, but was showing signs of getting weak. It did NOT have the benefit of a regulator, but it still gave good service for 11+ years.

Thanks for the tips fellas. I'll check out the replacement battery suggestions and try a belt or battery strap to remove what's in there now. I know it'll be a struggle doing it solo. Might be able to con my sons in law to help.
I'm pulling the engine for transmission work. The car has sat for a few years. I'll want a new battery.
Any other thoughts?

Richard... I also use the Optima 6-volt Red Top battery in our '26 roadster, with installation I use two wood battery lifts underneath to raise from below with a solid hardwood or painted metal brace on top of that secured by the two end clamps..... along with the proper sized 6 volt battery cables. ..... The Optima battery is not as deep as the original equipment battery. This is why I do lift the battery with those wood sections and also cut some heater hose to length and then cut longitudinally to fit over battery frame holder so that the positive cable does not have a chance to ground out at the cable positive connector.

Out of curiosity....
Weight Breakdown for Popular Group 1 6V Models:
Duralast (AutoZone): 31.01 lbs Reserve Capacity Minutes 150min at 25 Amp Load Dimensions 9.38in\7.13in\9.13in
Continental: 30.0 lbs
Duracell Ultra: 33 lbs
Super Start (O'Reilly): 31-33 lbs

6-volt Optima RedTop starting battery (model 8010-044) typically weighs 18.5 lb
Reserve capacity of 100 minutes at a 25-amp load Dimensions: \(10.06"\times 3.63"\times 8.13"\)

Get longer cables and set in in the turtle deck wherever you want.

Richard, I use a battery strap that I bought at an auto parts house to life the battery in my 26 Coupe. Of course, to get to it I have to remove the entire seat assembly. All the while, I cuss at Henry for putting the battery in the most inaccessible, inconvenient location.

I use the leash that the vet gives me when I take my dog in and I just leave it there for the next time that I need it.

I agree 100% with Pat. Also I leave a loop of plastic packaging tie tied around the battery to haul on.

Allan from down under.

Use this strap, for 6 volt battery, works great! Hauled in an old battery for trade at TSC, and the clerk marveled, had never seen one

I see the picture of an Optima mounted in the Runabout. I have a '23 and an Optima but have used heavy tie wraps to hold it, not the best. I see you have some sort of brace going across. What is it? Do anybody else have a cleaver hold down that can be got to from topside? The tie wraps need to be done from underneath and being old & fat, this is very unpleasant . . .

Paul

Original picture from above:

Easy to use the Ford clamps and carriage bolts that held the factory battery box lid.

Use a strip of wood as the structure for the clamps to bite on. Works well, no shifting of the Optima, esp. if you also make a pad with tall side wood pieces under the battery bracket.


Side boards on board fitted on the battery bracket for support.

My hold down is also wood. I started with a thicker piece, marked the under side, and cut a rebate to accommodate the battery. It hols down. as well as in place.

My Auto elec son suggests that the battery strap that hooks on the terminals is not a good idea,especially on heavy batteries. They have seen far too many batteries where the terminals have been damaged and the seal between the terminal post and the battery top has been compromised. There is a very good reason why most batteries these days have built-in carrying handles. He is the reason I use a plastic strap under the battery to lift it out.

Allan from down under.

Before I switched to an Optima I would just unhook the clamps and cables slide under the car and push the old battery up and onto the floor of the deck. Not the easiest but better than trying to muscle it out from the top especially if you have bumpers in the way as well. Good luck! Jim

Hudson29.….. The brace that I have going across the battery is actually a modern aluminum universal battery hold down part that I used prior to a solid oak wood brace. The original style battery hold down brackets are still used to hold this piece.

I haven’t seen the easiest solution mentioned yet. I remove the spare tire on my ‘26 roadster. Only takes a minute. That gives you much better access to the battery and you can easily lift it with a strap.