The Ford Barn

100550dvr · 07-15-2018, 10:27 PM

I am restoring a 1950 F47 (Canadian built version of an F1) truck and it is time to purchase a battery. While the easy solution would be to install a conventional 6VDC, wet battery, I have had excellent results using sealed, AGM-type batteries in other applications, including automobiles and aircraft. I realize there is much archive information pertaining to Optima batteries, but I do not feel the information specifically answers my concern. Here goes:

Does anyone have past experience mounting a 6VDC Optima battery in an "original" reproduction type battery box in an F1/F47? Will the original length of the battery tray stud and J hook accommodate the additional vertical height of the Optima battery/reproduction box? Any other issues or words of wisdom I should be aware of?

Thanks for the help and advice,

WABOOM · 07-15-2018, 10:46 PM

.https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F232842422776

WABOOM · 07-15-2018, 10:48 PM

This is what I was going to buy. The battery goes inside a box that looks like an old battery. Pretty clever.

Tinker · 07-15-2018, 10:50 PM

I think if your creative enough and patience enough you can make one also. Think there is a few threads on it. If this is a points car it might not cut the mustard.

40 Deluxe · 07-15-2018, 10:54 PM

Perhaps not the same, but I just put a 6 volt Optima Red Top in my '40 sedan. The Optima is the exact same height as the old Group 1 lead acid battery it replaced. Lengthwise, it was a perfect fit in the reproduction (OEM style) battery box. The Optima is much narrower of course (3 1/2") so I just centered it in the battery tray, made a strap out of 3/16" flat stock, drilled matching holes in the strap and battery tray and bolted it down with two 1/4" all-thread pieces about 8 1/2" long.

40 Deluxe · 07-15-2018, 10:56 PM

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P.S. I'm not trying to impress any snotty judges. My car is to drive and enjoy, not serve as shade for a patch of grass at some show.

Tinker · 07-15-2018, 11:45 PM

'Ah good. then anything goes. Ive had good luck with 6v optimas. It's great you can install them upside down if you like.

I have a lot of respect for keeping it "for real" I don't think they are snotty it's just what it is. No less, no more.

Paul Bennett · 07-16-2018, 12:41 AM

You don't seem interested in authenticity so I'd recommend using a bracket from Mike's Affordable Model A Supply for the Optima 6v batteries. I'm using that mount for my Optima 6v battery as it provides quite a bit more space in the engine compartment.

tubman · 07-16-2018, 05:28 AM

I bought one of the cases (as shown) for the Optima in my '51. It was expensive (almost $100), and had to be reworked to fit correctly. In the end, it worked out OK, but it has a fairly "generic" look to it. About a year ago, I was at the local NAPA, and there, sitting on the floor was a Ford script reproduction battery that someone had traded in as a core. I was able to buy it for the core charge, $10. One of these days, I am going to "gut" it and use this case. One problem I see with it is that it is about 1" shorter than the Optima so I'll have to cut the bottom off and rig some kind of an extension. I guess what I'm saying is that there is no easy solution, but if you bite the bullet, you can come up with something decent.

Frank Miller · 07-16-2018, 05:37 AM

Gutting an old case works. You need an extension for the posts as well. My dad just made an extension out of wood for the bottom and painted it black. It does not show on the bottom. Last year I left my headlights on for an hour by accident. The Optima fired it right up. It took a while for the charging system to return to normal but it worked fine.

chap52 · 07-16-2018, 07:22 AM

Here's the link to Mikes Affordable Model A optima hold down that Paul posted. Several of the Model A suppliers carry them. Mike's is $12, Berts $15. Chap

http://www.mikes-afordable.com/product/A5166OP.html

redmodelt · 07-16-2018, 08:48 AM

My 48 F2 call for a group 2 battery, which is larger then standard 6 volt. While yours is an F1 type you might want to check your tray size first. The tray might be longer so the standard hold down will not work, the mounting bolts would not line up with the hold down.

100550dvr · 07-16-2018, 10:38 PM

Thanks for the information. What I was thinking about was a configuration as posted by WABOOM. My concern was if the extra height of the Optima battery (5/8 inch) would prevent the hold down from securing the battery box because the J-hook and threaded stud were too short.

I believe the original battery was a Group 2. I will take some measurements to determine a direction to follow.

Thanks

07-15-2018, 10:27 PM	#1
100550dvr Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 35	Using an Optima Battery with an F1/F47 Truck I am restoring a 1950 F47 (Canadian built version of an F1) truck and it is time to purchase a battery. While the easy solution would be to install a conventional 6VDC, wet battery, I have had excellent results using sealed, AGM-type batteries in other applications, including automobiles and aircraft. I realize there is much archive information pertaining to Optima batteries, but I do not feel the information specifically answers my concern. Here goes: Does anyone have past experience mounting a 6VDC Optima battery in an "original" reproduction type battery box in an F1/F47? Will the original length of the battery tray stud and J hook accommodate the additional vertical height of the Optima battery/reproduction box? Any other issues or words of wisdom I should be aware of? Thanks for the help and advice,

07-15-2018, 10:46 PM	#2
WABOOM Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Minnesota Posts: 347	Re: Using an Optima Battery with an F1/F47 Truck .https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F232842422776

07-15-2018, 10:48 PM	#3
WABOOM Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Minnesota Posts: 347	Re: Using an Optima Battery with an F1/F47 Truck This is what I was going to buy. The battery goes inside a box that looks like an old battery. Pretty clever.

07-15-2018, 10:50 PM	#4
Tinker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: MN Posts: 7,053	Re: Using an Optima Battery with an F1/F47 Truck I think if your creative enough and patience enough you can make one also. Think there is a few threads on it. If this is a points car it might not cut the mustard.

07-15-2018, 10:54 PM	#5
40 Deluxe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: now Kuna, Idaho Posts: 3,779	Re: Using an Optima Battery with an F1/F47 Truck Perhaps not the same, but I just put a 6 volt Optima Red Top in my '40 sedan. The Optima is the exact same height as the old Group 1 lead acid battery it replaced. Lengthwise, it was a perfect fit in the reproduction (OEM style) battery box. The Optima is much narrower of course (3 1/2") so I just centered it in the battery tray, made a strap out of 3/16" flat stock, drilled matching holes in the strap and battery tray and bolted it down with two 1/4" all-thread pieces about 8 1/2" long.

07-15-2018, 10:56 PM	#6
40 Deluxe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: now Kuna, Idaho Posts: 3,779	Re: Using an Optima Battery with an F1/F47 Truck Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) P.S. I'm not trying to impress any snotty judges. My car is to drive and enjoy, not serve as shade for a patch of grass at some show.

07-15-2018, 11:45 PM	#7
Tinker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: MN Posts: 7,053	Re: Using an Optima Battery with an F1/F47 Truck 'Ah good. then anything goes. Ive had good luck with 6v optimas. It's great you can install them upside down if you like. I have a lot of respect for keeping it "for real" I don't think they are snotty it's just what it is. No less, no more.

07-16-2018, 12:41 AM	#8
Paul Bennett Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 628	Re: Using an Optima Battery with an F1/F47 Truck You don't seem interested in authenticity so I'd recommend using a bracket from Mike's Affordable Model A Supply for the Optima 6v batteries. I'm using that mount for my Optima 6v battery as it provides quite a bit more space in the engine compartment.

07-16-2018, 05:28 AM	#9
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,319	Re: Using an Optima Battery with an F1/F47 Truck I bought one of the cases (as shown) for the Optima in my '51. It was expensive (almost $100), and had to be reworked to fit correctly. In the end, it worked out OK, but it has a fairly "generic" look to it. About a year ago, I was at the local NAPA, and there, sitting on the floor was a Ford script reproduction battery that someone had traded in as a core. I was able to buy it for the core charge, $10. One of these days, I am going to "gut" it and use this case. One problem I see with it is that it is about 1" shorter than the Optima so I'll have to cut the bottom off and rig some kind of an extension. I guess what I'm saying is that there is no easy solution, but if you bite the bullet, you can come up with something decent.

07-16-2018, 05:37 AM	#10
Frank Miller Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Auburn, MA Posts: 2,106	Re: Using an Optima Battery with an F1/F47 Truck Gutting an old case works. You need an extension for the posts as well. My dad just made an extension out of wood for the bottom and painted it black. It does not show on the bottom. Last year I left my headlights on for an hour by accident. The Optima fired it right up. It took a while for the charging system to return to normal but it worked fine. __________________ “The technique of infamy is to start two lies at once and get people arguing heatedly over which is true.” ~ Ezra Pound

07-16-2018, 07:22 AM	#11
chap52 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Marana Arizona Posts: 1,776	Re: Using an Optima Battery with an F1/F47 Truck Here's the link to Mikes Affordable Model A optima hold down that Paul posted. Several of the Model A suppliers carry them. Mike's is $12, Berts $15. Chap http://www.mikes-afordable.com/product/A5166OP.html

07-16-2018, 08:48 AM	#12
redmodelt Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland OR Posts: 6,341	Re: Using an Optima Battery with an F1/F47 Truck My 48 F2 call for a group 2 battery, which is larger then standard 6 volt. While yours is an F1 type you might want to check your tray size first. The tray might be longer so the standard hold down will not work, the mounting bolts would not line up with the hold down. __________________ I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas!

07-16-2018, 10:38 PM	#13
100550dvr Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 35	Re: Using an Optima Battery with an F1/F47 Truck Thanks for the information. What I was thinking about was a configuration as posted by WABOOM. My concern was if the extra height of the Optima battery (5/8 inch) would prevent the hold down from securing the battery box because the J-hook and threaded stud were too short. I believe the original battery was a Group 2. I will take some measurements to determine a direction to follow. Thanks