1926-27 Battery Carrier

[ModelTWoods]

Is there a difference between the 26-27 battery carrier and prior year battery carriers. The bottom of the carrier that goes underneath the battery on my 27 coupe, had rusted through and a replacement metal strap welded in place. That piece of the strap is completely flat under the battery. On EBAY, I saw and bought an original battery carrier that had never rusted and been repaired and was solid. The bottom of the strap under the battery on it, has a couple of bends which raise the center of the bottom strap up so that the battery or battery box sits higher up in the carrier. Which is correct for a 26-27?

[Mark Gregush]

Yes there was a difference, which one is which I don't know. From the 1928 parts catalog; 1919-1923 5150 and 1923-1927 5150B*. * used with steel battery box or rubber case battery. Without pulling the tarp off and unloading the bed, can't see much on my 1925, except quick look from the rear, the strap does look flat across the bottom.

[ModelTWoods]

Yes there was a difference, which one is which I don't know. From the 1928 parts catalog; 1919-1923 5150 and 1923-1927 5150B*. * used with steel battery box or rubber case battery. Without pulling the tarp off and unloading the bed, can't see much on my 1925, except quick look from the rear, the strap does look flat across the bottom.

Mark, the repro that the vendors sell, like Lang's, #5150A, look to have a flat strap on the bottom. Catalog states they are not to be used with a battery box, unless a spacer board is used. 26-27 carrier must be 5051B with the bottom strap that raises the battery up a tad, so no spacer board is needed. Thanks.

[Allan]

On our Canadian sourced cars I have never seen a carrier with the bent-up section in the cross piece under the battery box.The only variation I have seen is in the top frame around the carrier, where the bends at the frame rail end are not all at 90 degrees on the corners.

Allan from down under.

[John Codman]

Yes there was a difference, which one is which I don't know. From the 1928 parts catalog; 1919-1923 5150 and 1923-1927 5150B*. * used with steel battery box or rubber case battery. Without pulling the tarp off and unloading the bed, can't see much on my 1925, except quick look from the rear, the strap does look flat across the bottom.

Mark, the repro that the vendors sell, like Lang's, #5150A, look to have a flat strap on the bottom. Catalog states they are not to be used with a battery box, unless a spacer board is used. 26-27 carrier must be 5051B with the bottom strap that raises the battery up a tad, so no spacer board is needed. Thanks.

My read on the 5150A battery carrier is that it cannot be used with a battery box, period. The spacer is necessary for the Lang's replacement or the original Ford carrier. I have an original carrier and the spacer is necessary or the battery hold-down clamps won't reach the top of the battery.

[TRDxB2]

Explanation with pictures from previous discussion
two different '26 styles http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/11 ... 1286291611
Box & lids http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/33 ... 1361832622

[pron022020]

I thought that you have to use a battery box like ford did to clamp it down. A battery won't get you to the right height period.

[RajoRacer]

That's why a spacer board is used Tyler - to bring up the battery to the functional height for the clamps.

[TRDxB2]

From Langs

[Humblej]

Terry, which battery carrier is correct I do not know, but if it helps, my 1924 T has a flat bottom carrier, and my 1926 Canadian T carrier looks the same as the earlier one with a flat bottom. I cannot think of a reason for a design change for a 26-27 battery carrier, or why one carrier has a raised strap and another has a flat strap. Hope someone knows the answer and responds.

[John Codman]

Lang's lists the 5150A battery carrier for 1919-1927.

[TRDxB2]

DIY oak, poplar, hard maple, plywood but seal the wood. May be cheaper to purchase from Lang's than buy the wood

[John Codman]

DIY oak, poplar, hard maple, plywood but seal the wood. May be cheaper to purchase from Lang's than buy the wood

When I bought my '27, the battery carrier and spacer(s) were a mess. I kid you not - I found Duct tape, Baling wire, and a couple of sheet rock screws (one of which protruded about 1 1/4" below the carrier). I repaired the battery carrier and thought about making my own spacer. When I looked at the Lang's catalog and saw the price of a store-bought spacer, I was on the phone to Lang's within ten minutes. No way I could get a decent piece of wood and make the thing for the $10.25 that Lang's wants for it. I also bought it a buncha years ago and it was cheaper then that.

[Original Smith]

If you look at the Ford parts list, there are two battery carriers listed. My take on this is the early style did not use a metal battery box, and only would allow the wooden battery case to fit. Assuming the wood battery cases became wet during wet conditions, especially driving through rivers, the wood case would swell. Therefore I assume again Ford redesigned the carrier for the metal box and lid. I was contacted recently by a guy who said my metal battery box reproduction would not fit. I assume he has the earlier style carrier.

[Allan]

When a metal box and lid are used, the wooden or later rubber battery cases were a reasonably neat fit in the metal box. The metal box lid rested on the metal handles on the wooden case batteries and on a raised sections on the ends of the rubber cased later batteries. The hold down clamps applied pressure to the metal battery box lid, and this pressure was transmitted to the battery case to hold the battery down. Vibration is a battery killer, so tying them down is essential.

Today's batteries are likely of different dimensions, and the thick wooden base board is one way to compensate for this. However, the battery still needs to be held down to prevent vibration. Mine is in a metal box, with a spacer board underneath. I use the original type hold down clamps, with a wooden spacer at each end. The spacer is cut to the desired thickness to allow the clamps to apply pressure to the battery case. The wooden spacers have an L shape cross section to further help with locating the battery case within the carrier.

My latest purchase is 6 volt red top Optima battery, so that will require a different set of hold-down spacers.

Hope this helps.
Allan from down under