electrical and ignition Replacing battery

[Jppatriot66]

I am replacing my battery on my 1974 TII for the first time and was wondering:

 

1. What is the best replacement battery?

 

2. What is the best way to remove it? The intake box needs to come off but what else?

 

Thank you,

 

Jon

[tashakes]

I bought a Wal-mart flavor battery 3 years ago when I got the car cause I'm a cheapskate and thought I would spend money on a good one somewhere down the line. It has survived amazingly well even through the 6 month period of being completely unused while my swap was being done. I am pleasantly surprised at the quality and resilience of it.

[nutbehindthewheel]

I haven't priced at dealer, but you should

I know my Mercedes & VW batteries are reasonable at dealer

And you get a Bosch !!

- I really hate seeing all these nice cars with some cheapo battery -

All these great cars being maintained, and ugly, ugly battery !!

As for removal, battery hold-down bracket (if still there)

Remove negative cable FIRST, then pos, lift out & put in new one

For install, pos cable 1st and then negative cable last !!

Good luck

[bobthomas]

while you're in there, you might want to neutralize any acid leaks with baking soda/water solution, then rinse that off thoroughly, & maybe touch up any rest spots with por-15 or eastwood's corroless or rust-encapsulator.

[jgerock]

Look for a size (Group) 26R if you are going to keep the battery under the hood.   It is more compact than most batteries.   To replace it, just remove the front snorkel and filter element.

 

While you have the battery out, check your wiring to the alternator (buried below the battery and tray) and also schedule an oil change with new Mann Filter.

 

Your post threw me for a minute- you seem to be using Paul Wegweiser's  old avatar.

Edited November 19, 2014 by jgerock

[adawil2002]

Look for a size (Group) 26R if you are going to keep the battery under the hood.   It is more compact than most batteries.   To replace it, just remove the front snorkel and filter element.

 

While you have the battery out, check your wiring to the alternator (buried below the battery and tray) and also schedule an oil change with new Mann Filter.

 

Your post threw me for a minute- you seem to be using Paul Wegweiser's  old avatar.

 

I thought it was Paul too, it threw me as well.

 

A PO put a rather large Interstate in Vern, worked great until I tried to remove it. It was wedged between the nose indent for the battery and the master cylinder. It was like a puzzle to remove. It kept getting hung up on the metal fuel filter next to the radiator and the nose.

Edited November 20, 2014 by adawil2002

[Conserv]

I've heard that the tii-size battery (Group 26R) is no longer available from BMW. If true, that's bad because it has the right look! Then again, if true, perhaps it's just temporary.

Here's my '76. And this is emphatically NOT the "right look"! I know, I know, I should simply strip off the decals and paint the green top black!

Steve

Edited November 23, 2014 by Conserv

['76mintgrün'02]

As for the 'look' referred to above, I like a plain ole black battery, with the stickers peeled off.  I do not need to see a bunch of legal warnings and half the time the stupid stickers are crooked!  That's what I've got to offer.

[M3M3]

A battery is a battery. Most all batteries are made by one of a very few companies and just branded. Dealer brand no better than walmart.

Big batteries are unnecessary and just extra weight in the wrong place.

I suggest getting a battery for a miata... much smaller, or go for a small agm.

I have seen fake big battery cases that can hold agm batteries for those that want the "look" of a big battery, with the advantages of modern power to technology.

Unless, of course, you have a monster kick butt sound system in the car and like to leave it cranked with parked!

Edited November 19, 2014 by mlytle

[jimk]

Don't beat on the posts or clamps unless you like battery acid caused corrosion.  It breaks the seal between the post and case.

Edited November 19, 2014 by jimk

[John_in_VA]

You are correct - at least the front snorkel of the air filter box needs to come off. It might be just as easy to pull the entire box.

Pep Boys was selling Bosch batteries, if you want to go that way.

[Jppatriot66]

I appreciate the advice everyone. Unfortunately the PO put in an Interstate MT47 and I cannot remove it without moving the radiator over or removing the brake master cylinder (don't want to do that). I'll figure this out and look for the right battery.

 

JP

 

Oh yes, I changed my avatar to avoid confusion...

Edited November 20, 2014 by Jppatriot66

[adawil2002]

I appreciate the advice everyone. Unfortunately the PO put in an Interstate MT47 and I cannot remove it without moving the radiator over or removing the brake master cylinder (don't want to do that). I'll figure this out and look for the right battery.

 

JP

 

Oh yes, I changed my avatar to avoid confusion...

 

Sounds like the battery I had, nearly impossible to remove. I was able to do it without damaging anything.

[ray_]

Hmm. Post a pic.

 

Just 4 bolts to remove for the radiator anyway. I bet you can do that and leave the hoses in place to gain enough room.

 

Cheers,

[esty]

- I really hate seeing all these nice cars with some cheapo battery -

All these great cars being maintained, and ugly, ugly battery !!

 

cheap [inexpensive] doesn't necessarily imply bad, like the rich & unfamous would want you to believe....as long as walmarts been around we've been buying batteries there because they are cheap [inexpensive] & they have the right size....i've got a walmart battery on my 76 that's about 6 years old and have never had to charge it....have had a couple that died before their expiration date but walmart, without question exchanged the old for a new

 

the prices have about doubled in the past year or so but they are still less expensive than most....i agree with mlytle, "A battery is a battery. Most all batteries are made by one of a very few companies and just branded. Dealer brand no better than walmart."

 

read the attached pdf file and search for car battery manufacturers for some enlightening info

 

Lead-Acid Battery Manufacturers and Brand Names List 2014.pdf

 

batteries

 

http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/content/us/en/products/power_solutions/power_solutions_presskit/about_power_solutions.html

• World’s largest manufacturer of lead acid automotive batteries for virtually every type of passenger car, light truck and utility vehicle.
• More than 50 manufacturing facilities worldwide.

• Lead acid batteries sold under private label brands as well as our own VARTA^®, Heliar^®, LTH^® and OPTIMA^® brand names. Major OEMs and aftermarket retailers include Daimler, General Motors, BMW, Ford, Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, Volkswagen, SAIC, Bosch, Walmart, Halfords, Interstate Battery System of America, Advance Auto Parts, and AutoZone.

Edited November 20, 2014 by esty