Optima Battery installation

[dgrinnan]

I stilll have the 6v system on my 47 WC.  I have a bargain battery from Auto Zone and when the truck sits for several days or more it looses it charge and only has enough charge to crank the truck maybe 4-5 times before it drains.  I have order an Optima 6v and I am hoping the solves the problem.  Have any of you installed an Optima Redtop in the original battery tray under the floor? How did you secure it?  Did you make a custom bracket?

[Merle Coggins]

I suspect that you have something drawing on the battery that is causing it to become discharged, unless the battery is just old and won't hold a charge. If it is a power draw issue upgrading to an Optima won't fix that issue. 

As for securing the Optima in the stock battery box, I can't help you with that. I believe the 6v Optima is much skinnier. You will likely have to modify your hold down bracket to hold it in place. 

[Young Ed]

I have an optima in my 46. For the first 5ish years the battery was held in with a bungie cord. When that died I added two riv nuts to the bottom of the tray. Then I made a I strap that goes over the top of the battery and bolts down to the riv nuts. 

[Plymouthy Adams]

what is the world coming to that a bungee cord will only last 5 years.......😃

[PT81PlymouthPickup]

I mounted a radio / CD player in the glove box around the turn of the century (2000). Ever since then my battery went dead if the truck sat for a couple months. Turns out these high tech (LOLS!) programmable radios draw current all the time. Pretty dumb way to design a car radio if you ask me. Anyhow, I just pull the fuse when I park it. Still annoys me. Had I known before I installed it, I would have found an earlier radio that does not draw current when turned off.

[PT81PlymouthPickup]

2 hours ago, Plymouthy Adams said:

what is the world coming to that a bungee cord will only last 5 years.......😃

Yeah! Probably made in China!

[dgrinnan]

I had some 2 inch angle iron laying around and needed to practice my welding skills (which are poor). I made a battery box that sits in the current location. 

[hi_volt]

A bit pricy, but solves the problem...

 

6 volt Optima Battery Cloaking Device looks like an original 6V PORSCHE 356 B T6 | eBay

[Plymouthy Adams]

in the case of the truck, battery beneath the floor, as is the original topic here, this is not needed.....out of sight out of mind...call me cheap, YOU'RE CHEAP!...but it is hard to justify this cost for a cover that is so easily seen as faux battery....you may fool yourself but that is where it will stop...but at casual glance it passes inspection.

 

 

 

 

Edited November 10 by Plymouthy Adams

[dgrinnan]

I agree with the "out of sight out of mind" thinking.  Only my hair dresser knows. 

[Doug&Deb]

For my Coronet I drilled a piece of bar stock to match the original hold down. It’s been there for five years now. I do agree with checking for a draw on your electrical system. Also fully charge your battery then load test it.

[dgrinnan]

The truck sit for a week.  I started it yesterday.  Slow to start waiting for the fuel system to fill up but no problems with the battery.  The short term assesment is a bad battery, not a phantom draw on the electrical system.  A few starts after a period of sitting will confirm or point to a battery draw. 

Edited November 17 by dgrinnan

[Plymouthy Adams]

will point not confirm...confirm with an amp meter in series....if very low draw use milliamp scale......quit guessing and get it right.  Odds are you may well have a voltage drop or bad rear bush in the starter...these will seriously impair a system and or drain a battery flat in short order.  Again, easy tests to do and KNOW not GUESS

[Dave72dt]

Enough start and stops without run time to recharge the battery will draw the battery down over time and mislead you.  Extended run time after each start tops the battery off and you start from scratch again.  Amp draws and voltage drops.  Successful diagnosis is from testing, not guessing.