Drivable at last!

[MADNESS]

After over 20 years in storage and nearly a year in my ownership, my S1 fhc is drivable!



Main problems with the car was electrical ( corroded joints) and brakes.

Went to Halfords last night to get a new battery for it, I could see the space for it was limited so brought two, one fits but isn't powerful enough and the other is powerful enough but don't fit!
What battery do we use on one of these??

[v8s4me]

This is what I have...



and this is where it is located...



Battery location seems to vary quite a bit across these cars. Where is yours?

[pk500]

I have used 075 too

[jmorgan]

Have to check what mine is. I did ponder something filled with unicorn tears and looked like a six pack but went for a Yuasa Silver (??) instead. Then bought one of them top up chargers and it spins up like a good un. Not sure what the 400 size is but can check later. Over 700 cranking thingamies I think,

I would do something about that metal bar as well (well, me personally, that would worry me). Wouldn't want that to slip where it is.

Edited by jmorgan on Saturday 15th July 11:42

[v8s4me]

jmorgan said:

...I would do something about that metal bar as well (well, me personally, that would worry me). Wouldn't want that to slip where it is....

Don't worry, that won't slip anywhere.

[mk1fan]

If you can find a regular one to fit, you can always fit a Varley 'Red Top' or Odessey sealed battery as they are much smaller than regular batteries. More expensive though.

[MADNESS]

Mine is located as pictured, it's only got 150mm width to get a battery on there!
I got a 380cca battery which fitted, just not enough power to start it.

Maybe I should wire a new feed to the back of the car, put it next to the spare wheel?

[MADNESS]

[jmorgan]

Right, here is mine.
http://www.yuasa.co.uk/batteries/automotive/ybx500...

Width 16, Depth, 18, length 26. Ish. It is in a 1990 400 though and in the arch gap as normal.

PS. Local factors got the battery, not the Big H. 80 odd quid a few years ago.

Edit. Spec on the PDF differs to my tape measure.

Edited by jmorgan on Saturday 15th July 14:50

[mrzigazaga]

MADNESS said:

Ahh...I see that the battery space is tapered like mine was on the 280i DHC...Right nightmare finding a battery with enough CCA and that fits...I used an MX5 gel battery, it had 550 CCA which was more than enough for the 280i...you need at least 450....

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

http://varleyredtop.com/varley-red-top/

Red-top Gel batteries are small but very powerful I have a 30 or 40 cant remember in my 4.0 Rv8 racer, and have been very impressed with it.
They are about double the price though of a normal battery.

[jimburr]

Always had an 069 or Bosch S4 on mine with no problems, bit tricky to get in and have to take the alarm off but always starts the NCK hotwire 3.9. 570 CCA.

[RCK974X]

Not sure if ref is the same, but I used an NS60 here in NZ. (430CCA).
It was fine, and fits neatly in the DHC as per silver bay pic above. Slightly longer then a std small battery, but no wider.

V8 wedges (and later 280 as well I think) had a dent moulded in the wing for a wider battery, and that fits the much more common DIN55 pattern
(500 CCA or more).

Edited by RCK974X on Monday 17th July 01:11

[MADNESS]

Thank you all for the advice on the battery, I am going to try getting a yuasa ybx 5069, that seems the best for me at the moment, I've got my local electrical retailer to get me a price.

Has been a good project, still other bits to do, not sure if I'll be keeping it or not right now, undecided.

[jmorgan]

I bought a ctek battery toperuperer doodad and it does what it says on the tin. Seeing as the light of day and my car do not mix much at the moment. It means everytime I start it up, it starts enthusiastically, like a brand new battery every time.