Battery area on V8 wedges

[RCK974X]

Just a quick couple of questions -
Do the later wedges (especially V8) have a 'dent' moulded in the wing to allow for a wider battery ?
Is the bonnet release on the opposite side to battery ?

Reason -

Battery choices for 280 seem to be getting less and less - I noticed my wedge only needs about another 20mm width to fit the 'standard' large battery (072 ?). I think I remember V8s have a dent. Weird thoughts were that an ordinary oven baking tray would make a perfect former for a DIY dent, and it's already non-stick !! Should be easy GRP job...

Would need to move the bonnet release out of the way too ....

[TA14]

RCK974X said:

Just a quick couple of questions -
Do the later wedges (especially V8) have a 'dent' moulded in the wing to allow for a wider battery ?
Is the bonnet release on the opposite side to battery ?

Reason -

Battery choices for 280 seem to be getting less and less - I noticed my wedge only needs about another 20mm width to fit the 'standard' large battery (072 ?). I think I remember V8s have a dent. Weird thoughts were that an ordinary oven baking tray would make a perfect former for a DIY dent, and it's already non-stick !! Should be easy GRP job...

Would need to move the bonnet release out of the way too ....

072 is standard, dry cell batteries (like some MX5s) take up less space. Think of the wing as three skins like a bananna: inner, outer and underneath so access to hold a baking tray may not be possible. If you really do need to re-shape the wing then aluminium mesh may be the way forward.

[Mr Tank]

Hi Andy

Yes some later wedges had a cut out in the right wing!

The bonnet catch was originaly in the middle of the bonnet but was later moved towards the left side of the bonnet. What the reason for this was I believe due to the air ventalation (Or lack of) system.

But somebody may know another reason for this!

With regard to battery postion for a 280i I have two cars and they both have different batt postions and my old FHC had the batt moved to the rear of the car beside the spare wheel!

Pics of battery postions

280iS3



280iFHC



Old 280iFHC




Batt postions on V8 cars.






I hope that helps.

Andy

[TA14]

Mr Tank said:

The bonnet catch was originaly in the middle of the bonnet but was later moved towards the left side of the bonnet. What the reason for this was I believe due to the air ventalation (Or lack of) system.

This is probably correct; the rear of the bonnet was curved at the same time so that it sat proud of the bulkhead.

[Jack Valiant]

As already mentioned for the V8,s, a standard type battery will fit in as long as you offer it up to the space at a 45 degree angle from the front and they slide in snugger than a set of well worn sea boots!

I'll get me coat!

Chris

[hallsie]

a set of well worn sea boots!!

What have you been up to??



Stu

[Jack Valiant]

Well what I do in my own time is up to me!!!

[RCK974X]

Mr Tank said:

Hi Andy
Yes some later wedges had a cut out in the right wing!
<..snip..>
I hope that helps.
Andy

AWESOME !! Thanks for those photos - I knew TVR changed stuff around quite a bit...

My wedge (1982) has battery as Photo 1, but with expansion tank mounted 90 degrees around, and otherwise is as photo 2. I see FHC might have an even a worse problem with battery size.

That green V8 shot also shows PERFECTLY what I was saying in the other thread (on V8 sizes) how that extra 'bend' gives just enough for the V8 to go in... beautifully clear at that angle.

TA14 - I was going to use the baking tray as a former, but OFF the car, and then glass in the new GRP piece to make a similar shape to photo above. Thinking I would cut out a rectangle from inner wing, and then reuse this in the baking tray, and adding new 'sides and flange' around it. (i.e. shape of tray) Then bond/glass it back to car.

I wasn't quite sure about how the battery floor fits, but I thought the cars were bonded (top and botton) about that point ? Floor is marine ply I think, inner wing is flexible to fingers, so probably isn't very thick...

Edited by RCK974X on Wednesday 19th December 20:04

[TA14]

RCK974X said:

TA14 - I was going to use the baking tray as a former, but OFF the car, and then glass in the new GRP piece to make a similar shape to photo above. Thinking I would cut out a rectangle from inner wing, and then reuse this in the baking tray, and adding new 'sides and flange' around it. (i.e. shape of tray) Then bond/glass it back to car.

... inner wing is flexible to fingers, so probably isn't very thick...

I see. The inner wing is notoriously thin.

I think that your method will work but it's going to be difficult to get it strong and neat. (I don't have an ideal answer.) It would work best if you thin the fibreglass on the remaining part of the wing around the hole and glass in some 280 matting which can then be pushed in when you offer up your 'tray' and fit it. I appreciate that thinning already thin GRP is not going to be easy. Good luck. I assume that you'll buy your engine first to see how everthing will fit.

[RCK974X]

Yeah, no arguments from me..... at present it's an idea which probably needs some more thought....
I could use the woven mat, pricier, but VERY strong, and (as you say) I'm not sure how to bond it properly to original wing when I can't get at both sides....

I just find it very annoying that for the lack of less than an inch, I (and other 280 owners) have to b*gger about to get a powerful enough battery...

It probably would be part of a rebuild, and if and when I decide what engine to put in...

(I even wondered if I could simply put the oven tray in with glue and self tappers ... just for a moment !)

Edited by RCK974X on Thursday 20th December 00:47

[Transmitter Man]

Has anyone thought of relocating their battery to the boot and or changing to a lightweight type?

Phil
420 SEAC

[RCK974X]

Battery in the boot is another way, but boot is small enough already !

[pasogrande]

Or two 6 volts in series?

Wilf.

[taz turbo]

RCK974X said:

I just find it very annoying that for the lack of less than an inch, I (and other 280 owners) have to b*gger about to get a powerful enough battery...

Speak with Leigh I spoke with him about batteries at BBWF, he mentioned he's using a battery in his wedge racer, that's a fraction of the weight and size of a lead acid battery and it performs well, seem to recall it wasn't silly money either.

Chris.

[mrzigazaga]

I had a bit of a job last year trying to get a battery to fit and which also had enough cranking amps hot & Cold..I tried loads and what made it worst was the fact that where to battery fits the gap goes from bulkhead 163.5 mm - 158-9mm ...The only battery at the time that was economical and provided enough amps was one that was 480ca and was 163mm wide..I thought this is the one and then realised that the gap tapers in so the battery would not fit..I ended using an MX5 battery which agian was not cheap but provides 450cca and is pretty small which is not normally the way with batteries..Its been good for the second year running..and even had room for a battery tray..I think the other options are Optima Red & Yellow top batteries but they are not cheap..
Here is my battery box..



And then glued it in with some high torque strength adhesive..And painted the keyed up area after fitting..

[RCK974X]

Guys, Thanks to all, but it's not that I CAN'T get a battery, just that I have to buy a more expensive one than the 072 already, and it's not 'common' , and I'm just naturally tight fisted.....

The 072 has more grunt (550CCA) but is cheaper than the NS60 (430CCA) I've got now.

There's nothing wrong with the NS60 for the 2.8, but if I do go to a bigger engine (ref. 'V8 dimensions' thread) then moulding a dent is an easy way to get a bigger battery in - 550CCA should be good enough for a 302 V8....

Edited by RCK974X on Friday 21st December 20:31

[taz turbo]

RCK974X said:

it's not that I CAN'T get a battery, just that I have to buy a more expensive one than the 072 already, and it's not 'common' , and I'm just naturally tight fisted.....
The 072 has more grunt (550CCA) but is cheaper than the NS60 (430CCA) I've got now.

The battery Leigh told me about was relatively inexpensive, and with a far greater output than a lead acid battery, sounds to me like a better solution than to spend a load of time to mod your bodywork so you can fit a 18th century technology battery. If I wasn't wanting to keep my car original I would fit the same.

Speak to him he's a really nice guy.

Chris.

[RCK974X]

taz turbo said:

The battery Leigh told me about was relatively inexpensive, and with a far greater output than a lead acid battery, sounds to me like a better solution than to spend a load of time to mod your bodywork so you can fit a 18th century technology battery. If I wasn't wanting to keep my car original I would fit the same.

Speak to him he's a really nice guy.

Chris.

Hmm, probably a L-ion or something like that - light and powerful. I'll ask....

[adam quantrill]

One thing to consider is the low-temperature performance. I know lead-acid get a little ropey at low temperatures but they essentially still work reasonably well down to -20C. Li-ion "drop off the cliff" when they get quite cold, below zero (probably around -10C or so). However you've gotta ask yourself if you use the car in the winter or not, if not then it won't be an issue.

[B@man]

I've just replaced my dead BOSCH battery with a VARTA 096 and the clamp that was fitted to the BOSCH does not fit the VARTA but it does look somewhat home made and TBH it did not really properly secure the old battery anyway.

What is supposed to hold the battery in place on a V8 Wedge ??