Battery Boxes

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Original Smith
Posts: 3699
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 10:43 am
First Name: Larry
Last Name: Smith
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 13 Touring, 13 Roadster, 17 Coupelet, 25 Roadster P/U
Location: Lomita, California
MTFCA Life Member: YES

Battery Boxes

Post by Original Smith » Sat Dec 18, 2021 2:53 pm

For those who have purchased my battery boxes: I offer you a huge thanks. Most have paid up, which is encouraging.
Most people will be using a standard group one battery. (I wonder when the industry stopped making Ford style batteries)?
The first thing you need to do is cut a piece of wood, or anything else, to bring the battery up to being level with the top of the battery box. Next you need to make two handles front and back to support the lid. If you have an original, you will notice two tabs, left and right that keep the center of the lid positioned correctly. If there is room, maybe a piece of wood can be placed front and back to support the lid, which needs to be 1 1/4" above the top of the battery. If using an Optima, figure it out! You should drill a couple of drain holes too.
The new style batteries introduced in 1925, were more substantial than the earlier wood batteries, but both work. I used the wood style handles for my battery box. They are made from 1/4" round stock, and are 1 3/4" long, and 1 1/4" high. I made mine 1/32 higher so it would go into a special angle bracket to fit over the battery. I drilled two 1/4" holes in the angle bracket (channel iron) to accommodate the handles, which I welded in place. I would make the angle bracket 4" long. I made mine from a piece of box tubing I bought from Home Depot, and cut it diagonally. Enough for two.


Joe Voller
Posts: 53
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 5:39 pm
First Name: Joe
Last Name: Voller
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 pickup 1922 centerdoor
Location: Aitkin Mn.
Board Member Since: 2018

Re: Battery Boxes

Post by Joe Voller » Sat Dec 18, 2021 4:37 pm

any chance of seeing some pictures of what it should look like?


Topic author
Original Smith
Posts: 3699
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 10:43 am
First Name: Larry
Last Name: Smith
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 13 Touring, 13 Roadster, 17 Coupelet, 25 Roadster P/U
Location: Lomita, California
MTFCA Life Member: YES

Re: Battery Boxes

Post by Original Smith » Sat Dec 18, 2021 9:25 pm

Perhaps, at a later date. With the holiday season upon us, and a huge tour the day after Christmas, there isn't a whole lot of time for anything!

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