Hey- I've got a '36 Ford slant back sedan that I'm about to rewire. I was thinking of mounting the battery behind the rear seat (backrest folds out) But I don't like the idea of having the battery and remote starter solenoid inside the cabin. Anyone know of a better place to stick the battery on a '36? I have a big ammo can that I can mount the battery in- but what about the fusible links and solenoid; Should they be fine mounted behind the back seat? It's a sealed type battery, btw. Thanks- Nooj
Leave the solenoid under the hood and keep the battery in the trunk, make sure you have a large fuse within 18" of the battery though. It'll work!
Well- I was hoping to put the solenoid near the battery to keep the long battery cable from being "hot" at all times. Nooj
I put my battery (an Optima) in the back of my '35 slantback, along with the solenoid and the fuel pump relay for my electric pump. The seat backrest folds forward for access although it isn't the easiest to work on, it's ok. I haven't had any kind of concerns with it at all. I was very careful to make sure that everything is secured correctly and protected. I have the battery in a marine (boat) plastic box that is bolted to a raised panel where the other electrical stuff is mounted. I was worried about that starter cable being hot all the time too, I think the remote solenoid is a good choice as well as a couple big maxi-fuses.
i put the battery in the stock location through the drivers side floor on my `35 slantback. one advantage of that was real short battery cables. disadvantages were it made it a little harder to run the exhaust and the upholstery guy had to put a flap in the carpet to access it i think behind the rear seat would be the best place. don't cut the firewall and mount it there like i have seen done it has been mentioned the rear seat back folds forward for access...well, the guy i sold the car to never new that . 5-6 years later i was talking to him at a car show and showed him. back there all that time was a box of cleaning supplies , tools , and some spare parts like extra points , fan belt , a couple quarts of oil , etc
The fuse you are looking for is called a 'MAXI' fuse. it is available at NAPA, along with it's holder (may be available elsewhere, might have a different name though), mount the holder to the outside of your battery box and you will only have about 6" max unprotected (and that should mostly be inside the box). I have one in my 31 Tudor, and one in our Anglia. I'm running the new style mini starters in both, and that doesn't blow a 125 Amp fuse (but you touch the main lead to ground, ONCE, pretty loud pop from that one).
I've had the battery in the 36 Chevy behind the seat for years with no fuse. Have I just been lucky? Why a fuse?
So if the insluation on the cable chaifes through to a body or chassis ground you don't burn up your car. I know the cables are supposed to be more secure than that, but weird shit happens.
Thanks for the replies, fellas. That's the reason I'm putting the ford starter solenoid in the rear- within a foot or so of the battery. That way the big fat cable is only hot from the battery to the solenoid, and the longer part during start only. I don't even remember where the stock battery location is on this car... It's had new floor pans welded in, so if it was under the floor board- that space is gone now. I guess I'll end up mounting it behind the rear seat. It's my dad's car, and he ain't as agile as he used to be, so I wanted to put it somewhere more accessable. But it'll do. I might just mount the solenoid to the ammo can I'm sticking the battery in. That'll make for a short cable from the battery to the solenoid. Then bolt the whole she-bang-a-bang to the floor. Should I worry about putting some kind of reinforcement under the floor where I mount this box, or will a few fender washers work? I don't want the thing tearing loose from the floor. Nooj
Be sure to properly vent the battery box. I had a rear mounted battery in my 36 slant. One cell died on the way home on a 500 mile trip and the alternator/regulator kept trying to charge 14.2 volts. That filled the storage area behind the seat with hydrogen gas. When I got in to investigate, I rubbed an aluminum lawn chair frame against my steel tool box and created enough spark to ignite the fireball. I had a fire extinguisher under the driver's seat and had the fire out in seconds saved the car. My eyebrows grew back. The vent should be at least a 1/2 hose going from the box to outside of the car.
I moved the battery on my 36 from the drivers side to the passenger side (under the floor ) to make room for the master cylinder .All i did was open up the recess thats already stamped in the floor pan and install the original lid .It worked out nice cause now the hot cable is only about 16 inches long, but im running a sbc . I dont think having a battery in the passenger compartment is such a good idea , even in a sealed box, of course thats just my opinion. Mike
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