Mgb battery box
Hi Everyone,
I am currently installing my CCE 4 link and ford 8.8 in my mgb roadster. There is interference with the battery boxes as I had expected, but do the battery boxes offer the car any structural support? I think they make the underneath kinda cluttered and would like to trim them back and just move the battery to the trunk. I do not want to give up any strength in this car as I want it as rigid as possible. |
ex-tyke Graham Creswick Chatham, Ontario, Canada (1165 posts) Registered: 10/25/2007 11:17AM Main British Car: 1976 MGB Ford 302 |
Re: Mgb battery box
|
Re: Mgb battery box
I actually did not hit there on my car maybe because it is an earlier chrome bumper car? I had the axel hit on the inner side of the passenger battery box. However I am curious if I could just remove the boxes completely or will this cause a lack of strength in the car?
|
ex-tyke Graham Creswick Chatham, Ontario, Canada (1165 posts) Registered: 10/25/2007 11:17AM Main British Car: 1976 MGB Ford 302 |
Re: Mgb battery box
Quote:Ah, the axle is hitting, not the upper link! I think the general consensus is that the battery boxes do provide additional body strength - If it were mine, I'd remove the minimum material from the box to allow full axle articulation. Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/14/2020 08:44AM by ex-tyke. |
Moderator Curtis Jacobson Portland Oregon (4577 posts) Registered: 10/12/2007 02:16AM Main British Car: 71 MGBGT, Buick 215 |
Re: Mgb battery box
Advantages of original location compared to the trunk:
lower center of gravity shorter polar moment of inertia at least one fewer bulkhead connection or pass-thru for cable shorter battery cable means less cable weight shorter battery cable means less voltage drop in cable doesn't consume/displace cargo capacity acid vapor vents directly to atmosphere instead of into cargo area better protection from collision/accident Advantages of trunk mounted battery, generally? The only one I can think of is (possibly) more convenient jump starts. I think a better idea might be switching from a lead-acid battery to a newer and much more compact type that can be mounted very close to the starter motor. |
MGBV8 Carl Floyd Kingsport, TN (4512 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 11:32PM Main British Car: 1979 MGB Buick 215 |
Re: Mgb battery box
What Curtis said. ;)
There is one more reason to move it to the trunk. It has been standard practice forever to place the battery in the right rear of the trunk for drag racing. |
BlownMGB-V8 Jim Blackwood 9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042 (6470 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 12:59PM Main British Car: 1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS |
Re: Mgb battery box
There are inconveniences with any battery placement but for sporting use the engineers got it right. Car was not designed as a drag racer and they put it as low as it could go. Note that the later cars eliminated the driver's side battery, giving better balance. On my car I have heavy terminals in the engine compartment and in the trunk which are very handy.
Jim |
|
WernerVC Werner Van Clapdurp Lynchburg, Va (108 posts) Registered: 09/06/2009 12:56PM Main British Car: MGB 1977 Rover 3.5 |
Re: Mgb battery box
I am planning on eliminating the heater box and install a small new style battery. One of my friends has done this. Looks very nice. I'll try to sent a pic later.
Werner |