MG Sports Cars

engine swaps and other performance upgrades, plus "factory" and Costello V8s

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danielruhe
Daniel Ruhe

(27 posts)

Registered:
05/23/2019 12:44PM

Main British Car:
Mgb battery box
Posted by: danielruhe
Date: April 13, 2020 10:14PM

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

authors avatar
Re: Mgb battery box
Posted by: ex-tyke
Date: April 13, 2020 11:33PM

That's a known issue that needs to be addressed by beveling the side of the battery box to provide clearance. Doesn't impact battery positioning inside the box

4-link battery box clearance.jpg

4-link battery box clearance 2.jpg



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/13/2020 11:37PM by ex-tyke.


danielruhe
Daniel Ruhe

(27 posts)

Registered:
05/23/2019 12:44PM

Main British Car:
Re: Mgb battery box
Posted by: danielruhe
Date: April 13, 2020 11:39PM

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?
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ex-tyke
Graham Creswick
Chatham, Ontario, Canada
(1165 posts)

Registered:
10/25/2007 11:17AM

Main British Car:
1976 MGB Ford 302

authors avatar
Re: Mgb battery box
Posted by: ex-tyke
Date: April 14, 2020 08:43AM

Quote:
.....I had the axel hit on the inner side of the passenger battery box
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

authors avatar
Re: Mgb battery box
Posted by: Moderator
Date: April 14, 2020 01:08PM

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

authors avatar
Re: Mgb battery box
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: April 18, 2020 09:57AM

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
(6469 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 12:59PM

Main British Car:
1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS

authors avatar
Re: Mgb battery box
Posted by: BlownMGB-V8
Date: April 18, 2020 11:48AM

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
Posted by: WernerVC
Date: September 03, 2020 07:59PM

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


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