RockAuto says my '89 b250's battery tray is to accept a group 34/78 battery.
I've used 34, 24, 27 and now group 31.
A group 34 flooded battery is
Weight: 38.5 lbs Length: 10.75 in Width: 6.875 in Height: 8 in
They have about 55 amp hours capacity at 20 hour rate, meaning when they are newish and fully charged, they can provide 2.75 amps for 20 hours, before voltage falls to 10.5v, which is considered 100% discharged.
They have generally 120 minutes reserve capacity, meaning they can provide 25 amps continuous for 120 minutes before voltage falls to 7.75v. Again if the battery were new, healthy and fully charged when the 25 amps was first applied.
CCA maxes out abut 800 in this group size, which is respectable.
a CCA test is 'supposed' to represent a 800 CCA battery, that can provide provide 400 amps for 30 seconds with voltage remaining above 7.5v. The battery is supposed to be 0f for this test.
I expect few batteries would make their CCA ratings if actually cooled to 0f and had half their cca rating applied for 30 seconds, but that is supposedly the test parameters.
I am employing a significantly larger Northstar Group 31 TPPl AGM battery
weight 75 lbs length 13 width, close to 7 height, closer to 10 inches to top of terminals
103 amp hours capacity 220 reserve minutes 1050 CCA.
My original battery tray was rusted. corroded.
I made a new tray, and lowered it and widened it, so it would accept the larger group 31, with width anfd height to spare.
I'm not quite done with this portion of my electrical upgrade and some details shown in the photos is just functional but temporary while I further refine the mounting of battery and surrounding components.
While most batteries with 500 or more CCA will have no issues starting the engine in temps above 40f, a 1050 CCA TPPL Agm turns the starter so fast and my engine catches so quickly it is is almost a bit alarming.
Northstar is sold as X2power by batteries plus, and they add another year to Northstar's 4 year free replacement warranty.
These batteries are amazing, but need some specialized charging when subjected to deep cycle duty, and are not worth their premium in such duty if their peculiar needs are not met.
Namely no less than 40 amp charging current per 100Ah of capacity, when deeply cycled and true full charges are required more often.
Last edited by wrcsixeight; August 05th 2021 4:07 am.
74ChevyVan: your van is awesome: you give me inspiration. I have a 1974 G10 Shorty I was blessed with in October of 2020. Have to make the time and it's a nice blank slate.
Back in the day I had all shortys: 1967; 1971 and my original 1974. The plan is to make my new girl a clone of the original.
67Econo Guy: I can't remember seeing a nicer old school, Ford.
Last edited by SDMickey; August 07th 2021 12:39 am.
Put 6 1/2" oversize Pioneer component speakers in the front doors of my 99 Econoline, had to make plywood adapters to fit the stupid 6x8 holes, I really need a door panel for my drivers door, has a big hole, while it was off, I'm thinking about fiber glassing the back side of the panel, tho crumbling as it is, I fear it may be too late, I have yet to find a replacement, been busted since I bought it in 2002, just keeps getting bigger. The component speakers sound amazing, I had planned to install them years ago, but ended up putting them in the 73, now its totaled they made it home. The worst thing that could happen did, I didn't get the door lock indicator in the hole in the passenger panel, couldn't open the door, the panel was holding it down, unable to unlock the door, couldn't open it, I can say removing the door panel door closed is not a pleasure, the bottom screw was near inaccessible, then there is the top trim that has to pop off to access the top screw, held against the pillar, learned always be careful when installing the panel.
SDMickey. I have another classic car (69 AMC Javelin) and I swore if I got another classic it would me turn key and drive. But I like you had a shorty (79) and starting with a blank slate was to tempting. While I wanted to clone my original as well I decided to use all the great interiors I've found on all the van sites. I've only taken it two to a couple of cruises so far but the comments tells me it was worth the wait.
Making some changes to the interior on my van so I took it down to the subfloor again which is a big step backwards but after living with my van the last 2 years, I wasn’t happy with how I did things and wanting to redo the carpet (again) prompted me to decide to take everything out and build it better.
I’ve purchased black shag and a factory OEM style front area carpet that will fit around the doghouse and all the other areas and will be easier to keep clean. I’ve just about finished fitting the swivel seat bases and getting those powder coated and will install them. I cut my divider walls in half as I wasn’t loving the permanent separation and wanted to move the speakers as well. I was never 100 % sold on the final shape I built so I kept the lower upholstered half wall section and will trim it out and should look great. Now that everything is out, I will carpet the whole floor this time including the rear wheel wells and partially up the side walls under the rear bed area for a finished look. Then I’ll re install the bed structure and bolt it into the subfloor. Last time I built the bed, i installed it over the wood subfloor and I decided to carpet around everything and didn’t even get the rear area done so it just felt incorrect and more of a pain to do it that way.
This van has taken me considerably longer than I think I ever could imagine and my list to finish the vision I have for the interior is still so long. But I’m committed to doing it right and feel so much better about the changes I’m making and even fixed some problems with a few minor things and it should be great this time around.
Deathorvictory. Your work is excellent from every post I've seen. Your van flows brother and those deep dish mags are sweet. ( Not to mention your exhaust ) Cant's wait to see the future pics.
Last edited by SDMickey; August 07th 2021 12:44 am.