The 'E' Type Forum

This should not be complicated....

When I got my E-type it was in half, thus I have no pictures of how this should be.
Anyway the problem is that the battery and battery clamp is to long...
At the moment the battery is not original but has very close original dimensions with only the width 10mm wider.
I suspect that when the sill was replaced it must have been a little shorter than original since the battery clamp will stick outside the end of the sill. My plan is to shorten the batteryclamp with 20mm and attach the battery hooks in the walls... Not sure if thats original or not.
Do anyone have some pictures to share on their original battery setup?
Is there anything wrong with my plan that anyone knows about that will create future problems for me?

See the attached images for better understanding :)

Thanks for your time :)

images

Thim

Your main problem, as you have already highlighted, is the clamp protruding out past the sill into the wheel arch.
Does the bonnet close without hitting the clamp? If not then you may have to abandon it altogether and go for a non-original clamping arrangement, many members have already done this.
The second issue of the clamps being too long can be solved by using spacers between the clamp and the wing nut. I've had to do this on the rear one not because it's too long but because the wing nut fouls the web beside it.
In general the battery arrangement is not one of the E-Type's better thought out areas. Even with everything as it should be space is very tight. Even with the correct size battery fitting it is a real faff.
Good luck

Thim,
This may help :-
http://forum.etypeuk.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=17710

It will give you the size of modern battery that will fit. I have the same top battery mounting plate and the lower aftermarket plastic battery tray. This still gives a very tight fit into the compartment once the battery is in position between the two vertical threaded rods. I usually temporarily tape the front battery vertical threaded clamping rod to the front splash guard to stop it falling down and out while fitting the battery in.
Regards,
Dave

I have exactly the same problem with my 3.8 FHC. I have concluded that the battery clamp is just too long and, like Thim, have decided to chop 20mm or so out of it. I just need to find someone I can trust to do it.

I also seem to have a problem with the clamping rod fouling on the regulator bracket.

They modern battery terminals I am using are also in danger of shorting on the battery clamp and need to be fitted very carefully.

Problems like these all conspire to slow restoration progress.



Regards

You're not alone - it was the same problem on mine as well.
I had to cut a section out of the top clamp and get it re-welded.

If you've not fitted it already, check the air-filter support bracket. Again, it needed shortening on mine.

I never worked out which bit of the car caused the problem, and it all fits now so I'm not worrying about it.

Simon

Same problems here so I decided to use flat stainless bar across top, drilled on each end and utilising original clamps to draw down on the battery top. I was concerned about the possibility of terminals shorting if it moved but 5k miles later, including Highlands to E60, it’s as solid as the day I fitted it and no more risk than original square top bracket which is now sidelined.

Funny this is such a know problem. I suspected it was..
Well my intention as of now is to use the original fastener setup, but I will thread the rods 15mm more, and I will cut and weld the battery clamp to fit the battery I will end up buying...

My "new" problem is actually to find a battery with a basic shape (rectangular) at the top surface so the clamp will actually fit! All new batteries I have found seems to have very distorted and changing geometry which makes it hard to fasten. This battery will work for me, but I must wait along time for transport.. :(

https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/numax/009r/

Thanks for all the feedback and good suggestions! I will try and make a end comment to my solution to help others :)

I am not sure if this is simply down to differing battery clamps from different suppliers or a change in design. I purchased a new battery tray and clamp from SNG Barratt back in July 2017 and had no issues with their fit whatsoever.

Hope these pictures post. I use a smaller form factor Group 26R (reverse polarity posts). Plenty of CCA, easy in and out with smaller size and weight, good spacing of the terminals. Not stock looking but i am not showing the car for points. Commonly available.

I think the hold down I got some time ago is a proper repro, not positive but looks close, and it just fits. Gotta trim that J hook someday.