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Feb 16, 2016 16:39:01 GMT
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I am rebuilding my MGB GT after a respray, it was originally a 6v car with 2 batteries under the back seat although was converted to 12v years ago. The aperture for the battery is tiny as it was only meant for 1 6v, last time I replaced the battery on the car it was both expensive, tiny and didn't last that long, Ive got an ongoing issue with the ballast resistor and Id often kill the battery before I managed to get it to fire when cold.
As I'm repainting the interior of the car and removing the boot board I thought it would be a good opportunity to fit a much bigger/more powerful battery in the boot, plan is too replace the live cable all the way to the front of the car, and the earth to the existing chassis mounting point under the seat, any suggestions for what size cable I should go for, also although I'm looking for a larger and therefore more powerful battery I don't want to fit something huge that weights a tonne, any recommendations for lightweight batteries that would be man enough for a high compression b series?
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Last Edit: Feb 16, 2016 18:38:12 GMT by monty400k
72 MGB GT
88 Daimler Double Six
89 Rover Mini
91 Nissan Figaro
95 Lotus Esprit S4S
18 Discovery
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Darkspeed
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,755
Club RR Member Number: 39
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Battery in the bootDarkspeed
@darkspeed
Club Retro Rides Member 39
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Feb 16, 2016 16:44:26 GMT
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Why not fix the starting issue and fit a smaller lighter less expensive battery in the place of one of the 6V batteries?
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Feb 16, 2016 17:03:20 GMT
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This place should be able to supply cable of the right size. www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/product/752An MX5 battery should be man enough and the specific MX5 type like Wesco don't give off corrosive gas which can cause the boot floor to rust in a sealed boot enviroment. You could just vent it otherwise with a couple of vent tubes passing through grommets in the floor providing you find a battery that has vent holes. |
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Feb 16, 2016 17:12:28 GMT
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Why not fix the starting issue and fit a smaller lighter less expensive battery in the place of one of the 6V batteries? Ive already cut the battery boxes out as they were both rotten |
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72 MGB GT
88 Daimler Double Six
89 Rover Mini
91 Nissan Figaro
95 Lotus Esprit S4S
18 Discovery
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Feb 16, 2016 19:17:22 GMT
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Feb 16, 2016 19:18:12 GMT
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MGB GT and Roadster are all 12v , never have been 6v.
Later B GT's did have one 12v battery ...
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Feb 16, 2016 19:51:38 GMT
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You can fit a decent 12v into the 6v bay there used to be one that fitted exactly if you trimmed the plastic mounting lugs on the base. Fix the starting issue first rather than fitting a bigger battery
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Feb 16, 2016 20:13:46 GMT
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The starting issue is not the reason I'm looking for a bigger battery, as I said i removed the old battery trays as they were in pieces, the car is stripped with a full roll cage and far from standard so there is plenty space in the boot for a decent size battery which is more accessible, just wondered if anyone else had done an upgrade like this on a BGT
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72 MGB GT
88 Daimler Double Six
89 Rover Mini
91 Nissan Figaro
95 Lotus Esprit S4S
18 Discovery
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Feb 16, 2016 21:24:42 GMT
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I would hang it in the battery box area, lower centre of gravity and all that, if the boxes are gone just make up some bigger frames and open the hole up to suit
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bigdaz
Part of things
Posts: 201 
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Feb 16, 2016 22:02:15 GMT
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some bmw's and minis have the battery in the boot I would get the cable from one of those will be the right size and got the ends crimped on, a sealed battery would be s good idea to as there smaller and won't leak, and a fuse both ends as with the car running the current can flow both ways from battery to engine and alternator to boot the last thing you want is a fire,
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Iain
Part of things
Posts: 351
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Feb 17, 2016 11:45:04 GMT
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Vehicle wiring products are good for cabling, I ran a large battery +ve cable to the boot of my track car, they're very helpful in store but do mail order.
I was recently browsing Odyssey batteries too, can be purchased around the £80 mark and offer regular battery power at a much smaller weight and dimensions.
Just a couple of avenues to look into, I have no experience of 6v batteries and their dimensions but Odyssey have sizes and ratings available.
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Feb 20, 2016 22:31:33 GMT
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I used 400 amp jump leads and cut the croc clips off. works a treat. cheaper than getting battery cable
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Nissan Laurel SOLD  BMW E34 Diesel SOLD  Toyota Soarer 4.0 V8 SOLD Audi A4 1995 TDI SOLD Peugeot 205 1.9 TD SOLD Lexus IS300 SC |
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Feb 20, 2016 23:07:11 GMT
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I used 400 amp jump leads and cut the croc clips off. works a treat. cheaper than getting battery cable Battery leads are pure copper. Jump leads are cheaper than battery cable because they are often CCA (copper clad aluminium). It's a case of getting what you pay for ! I actually use battery cable for jump leads as far better quality Welding cable is also excellent. |
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Ryannn
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,421
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Feb 21, 2016 17:16:28 GMT
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The biggest battery you can fit in the battery box of a mini is an 075, also fitted to Pug 306D's. I've got one in mine and it's a common upgrade amongst the "scene". If it's good enough for a diesel then I can't see why it wouldn't be able to handle a B-Series. My mini is stood for weeks on end and fires up straight away.
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sonus
Europe
Posts: 1,386
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Feb 21, 2016 23:10:09 GMT
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I managed to fit a Optima Redtop in one of the battery boxes in my mk1 GT. Battery laid terminals down with one terminal in the battery opening and the other in front. Then turn the battery 90 degrees making the terminals face forward. Then lower battery whilst clearing the body with the last terminal. Batterysits on one end terminals facing forward.
Regarding battery boxes do remember that the it has some effect on body strength iirc.
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Last Edit: Feb 21, 2016 23:10:45 GMT by sonus
Current
1968 TVR VIXEN S1 V8 Prototype
2004 TVR T350C
2017 BMW 340i
Previous
BMW 325d E91LCI - sold
Alfa Romeo GTV - sold
Citroen AX GT - at the breakers
Ford Puma 1.7 - sold
Volvo V50 2.0d - sold
MGB GT - wrecked by fire
MG ZT 1.8T - sold
VW E-golf Electric - sold
Mini Countryman 1.6D -sold
Land Rover Discovery TD5 - sold
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adam73bgt
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,888
Club RR Member Number: 58
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Battery in the bootadam73bgt
@adam73bgt
Club Retro Rides Member 58
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Feb 23, 2016 23:26:14 GMT
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For battery sizing, I had a 202 sized battery which was happy starting mine in all weathers, though I was size constrained by using the original cradles A boot mount should be pretty easy, especially as you're removing the false floor in the boot. Just make up some bracketry to hold it in place and run the cables as needed As for starting performance for a high comp B series, look for a high Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) number on the battery. The one I had in mine was 360amp which was plenty on my mildly tuned engine. I would imagine even the highest compression B series shouldn't need more than 500amp? I'd probably use an 063 sized battery with a high CCA, its a common battery size so a decent price and they're not massive either Probably worth sorting out the ballast resistor issues too, although I don't know all that much about them  |
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Feb 24, 2016 19:09:21 GMT
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Cheers, good info, I'm also liking that panhard rod in the above car, one of those is on the to do list, although not the horrifically overpriced Moss effort, that car appears to have a single trailing link mounted above the diff, interesting, can you point me in the direction of that car?
You fitted red US light to the rear of yours, are the chrome back plates the same for the later lights, spotted a set but they only come with lenses and chrome outer trim??
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72 MGB GT
88 Daimler Double Six
89 Rover Mini
91 Nissan Figaro
95 Lotus Esprit S4S
18 Discovery
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adam73bgt
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,888
Club RR Member Number: 58
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Battery in the bootadam73bgt
@adam73bgt
Club Retro Rides Member 58
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Feb 24, 2016 19:43:33 GMT
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Some more info on that car here www.britishracecar.com/jamesbowler-mg-mgbgtv8.htm Ooof! I did indeed, ermmm good question... Looking back to remind myself, I think they are slightly different between the early and late lights. Mine came with the bases when I got them so I didn't look too closely   |
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