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2 batteries to 1

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vping

vping

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Is this an easy thing to do? The GT has 2 batteries and I'd like to go to one while trying to see if she'll run. Can older batteries that are of the fillable type be brought back to life?
 
Prob not. However that said it is not impossable in some cases.
 
If the casing is good,it may be possible to have an old battery rebuilt with new plates etc., It was done in the UK and in NZ.If there is a battery shop near you,they may be able to help.

Stuart.
 
Actually it's very easy to do. Most Bs have been converted. Those old twin 6-volt batteries are heavy, expensive and don't last that long.

It's been a while but I think all you have to do is remove the linking cable between the old batteries and connect the hot and ground directly to the 12V battery. You may have to extend one of them to reach the other battery box. Put the single battery in the passenger battery box if possible.
 
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Actually it's very easy to do. Most Bs have been converted. Those old twin 6-volt batteries are heavy, expensive and don't last that long.

It's been a while but I think all you have to do is remove the linking cable between the old batteries and connect the hot and ground directly to the 12V battery. You may have to extend one of them to reach the other battery box. Put the single battery in the passenger battery box if possible.

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I guess this is to offset my fat butt. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif

Would a 1974 GT be positive or negative. I'm gonna look later, just preparing myself. I'll probably wind up taking my '67 GT battery out for the initial awakening.
 
74's are negative. IIRC the last year of positive was 67. I put a single battery in my 74. I can send you a part number if you like.
 
I don't recall seeing any BMC/BL car after '67 being positive earth. That one certainly shouldn't be: the owner was a dealership "familiar".
 
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74's are negative. IIRC the last year of positive was 67. I put a single battery in my 74. I can send you a part number if you like.

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Sure what do you recommend?
 
Definitely negative ground. I run a single 12 in mine and it is the smallest size. Can't remember the number. 24, I think. It fits right down in one of the 6V holes. Some batteries have a plastic protrusion at the bottom for clamping in a car. This has to be trimed off being very careful not to cut into the body where the acid is. I use a hacksaw blade for this purpose. When I bought the car, the battery was in the trunk in a plastic boat battery box. But the down in the real battery slot is much better.
Bob
 
As an alternative, you can also use two small 12v batteries, wired in parallel. Wiring in parallel doubles the cranking amps and keeps the voltage the same: the normal 6v batteries are wired in series, which gives the same cranking amps as one battery, but doubles the voltage.

I found two small 12v batteries, which combine to give 780 cranking amps: more than enough for most engines! Certainly useful for V8s, but the 1800 engine can be a bit of a pig to turn over, too.
 
Not a hard project yet very rewarding...expect to spend a Saturday because youy'll see other things back under there you want to play with.
 
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Not a hard project yet very rewarding...expect to spend a Saturday because youy'll see other things back under there you want to play with.

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Amen to that. Clean the terminals. Clean the ground connection and/or replace the ground lug. Lube the handbrake cable. Clean the breather, top up the diff. Adjust the rear brakes. Check the tire pressure. Check the oil. Rebuild the engine. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif

Shipwrights disease. Never ends.
 
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Not a hard project yet very rewarding...expect to spend a Saturday because youy'll see other things back under there you want to play with.

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Changing a battery is a days work or "Awakening a Sleeping B" is a days work?
 
Boy, not at my house and I work very slow any more and clean up after every job. Trying to get things just right.
 
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Changing a battery is a days work or "Awakening a Sleeping B" is a days work?

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Changing the battery implies you will try to start it. You won't want to do that unless you've followed the instructions outlined. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nonono.gif
 
I've put a 26 in here as well. Interstate. It's a snug fit, but a good one. Enough room above it to fit one of those cheezy cut-out knobs, too.
 
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