More time than money

My 59 F250 is to the point of needing the battery installed so I can take it for a spin. It calls for a group 29 battery and I really didn't want to buy one. I have a really good, fairly new group 31 John Deere battery which was just a little too long. So I rebuilt my old rusty carrier to fit it. I used the 2 original "L" parts from the old one

And I'm not sure who makes John Deere batterys but they are as good as you can buy. They always last 8-10 years in the tractors and weigh about half again as much as any other battery. That group 31 must weigh at least 60 pounds. 925 CCA and 180 minutes reserve capacity (that's a lot) Footprint is 12 3/4" x 6 3/4"

Looks good WB3.[cl
A lot of time I run marine batteries because they seem to last longer as well.
Torchie

I'd have done the same thing too

That there is the BobW approach to darn near everything. Looking good WB.

I still need to make a hold down. You can't see them but I put tabs with holes on each end for J bolts, or more likely a bungee.

I also agree with you Wb, the heavier the battery, the better it is.
To help you remember which battery to buy, [heavy or light]; here's my theory, 'Electricity is piled neatly in the heavy batteries, whereas it's just shoveled into the light ones willy-nilly.'
Boy, you not only have a square body Ford truck, you have a Y-block in it, you lucky dog.

MercuryMac said:

here's my theory, 'Electricity is piled neatly in the heavy batteries, whereas it's just shoveled into the light ones willy-nilly.'

Click to expand...

That's where I went wrong. I thought they poured the electricity in, now I find out they just shovel it in. I should have known!

Toad

MercuryMac said:

I also agree with you Wb, the heavier the battery, the better it is.
To help you remember which battery to buy, [heavy or light]; here's my theory, 'Electricity is piled neatly in the heavy batteries, whereas it's just shoveled into the light ones willy-nilly.'
Boy, you not only have a square body Ford truck, you have a Y-block in it, you lucky dog.

Click to expand...

I drove a 57 F350 for a daily driver back in the 70s and they have been my favorite since, It's just taken me this long to get another one, well one that runs anyway. I got a nice freeby seat for it today out of a 58 F600, delivered to my door.

Looking good [cl
I find that off times it's easier to make the car/truck fit the battery than the other way around Did the same thing in the Sprint.

Freebe seat, and now tell us the upholstery is in good shape

Seems like I've always got more time than money!
Good job on the battery box. And a good deal on the free seat![cl

Improvise, adapt and overcome! [cl

Just a friendly tip/story...

Back when I was in the RV racket, I attended numerous service schools. One of the regular instructors was an electrical engineer/inventor/entrepreneur/manufacturer. (An exceptionally smart man, unlike myself.) Anyhow, he always spoke to batteries and among other things, he said, "The death of a battery is vibration."

Long story short, a lead/acid battery will live a shorter life if not secured tight. Allowing it to tilt, hop or shift "shocks" the lead plates, which distort and fatigue until they touch each other or fall loose.

What I'm trying to say here, is finish your hold down for the safety and life of your battery. (With absolute respect, WB, Ford didn't use a bungee cord!)

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It might be good to have a soft rubber pad under batteries then.

Well, that was my new thing learned today. Thanks Dr. C!

I've heard the same thing as Dr C from truck shops. Almost all semi truck batteries sit on wood or a rubber mat. I had to replace the plywood bottom of my battery tray on my latest truck, it had about rotted away.

I was also thinking I should cut a piece of rubber to go under it. Thanks for the words of wisdom Crank.

That's why so many new vehicles use a fairly thick plastic batter box on top of the steel plate. Gives it just enough cushion.

Guess I'm the weird GM guy because all of my stuff gets a 75 or 78 series side post battery...But then again most all of my stuff is GM based...[cl

I hate side post batteries. I usually end up changing them to top posts. I've stripped many a side post threads out.

I am always jump starting something and they are kind of a pain, even with those little designated clips on the end of the cables.