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Location: The Mile High City | Ok, so I have seen those fancy "show" batteries for years, but in all the time I have owned ForwardLook cars, I have never had one in one of my cars. I was always just fine with a Sears battery in there. Well, I decided it was time to step up to the big leagues and try to get one of those fancy pants batteries.
I checked the internet first. There is a place that sells a fantastic reproduction period MoPar battery for about $300. You can get the same battery on eBay for $500! Either way, it is a lot to spend on a car battery!
I decided to go with a battery "dress-up" kit. I bought a "tar topper" battery cover and a battery decal from two different internet vendors. The tar topper was about $20 and the decal was about $7. The pictures you see of the De Soto show the newly purchased Group 24 "flat top" battery from NAPA (about $90). I removed all the NAPA stickers on the battery and added the $27 dress-up kit. Voila! I am now a fancy-pants battery owner - and it sho' feels fine!
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Attachments ---------------- engine 1.jpg (159KB - 318 downloads) engine 2.jpg (154KB - 316 downloads) engine 3.jpg (160KB - 316 downloads) engine 4.jpg (158KB - 322 downloads)
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 5139
Location: cornpatch county, Southwest IOA | Well that IS pretty nifty! So underneath there is a capless sealed battery? And how does the battery dis-connect function . I mean does it remove the cable from the post clamp?..........................MO |
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Location: The Mile High City | Howdy, MO - er, Cornpatch!
So the battery underneath that tar topper is a regular sealed Group 24 battery with two large caps that are recessed so that they are flush with the level of the base of the posts. I just put the tar topper over the top (it has holes for the posts) and put the hold down over that!
Those battery dis-connects I have used for many years - and I like them. Basically, you turn the green knob and it a plate on the base of the knob breaks the link between the battery and the ground.
Here are the websites for my battery dress-up kit... http://www.perogie.com/moparengine.htm decals http://www.tartopper.com/ topper |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1107
Location: Arvada, Colorado (NW Denver Metro Area) | Mike, Neat idea to dress up the engine compartment. I will do the same with my convert. Thanks for tip! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 444
Location: Sweden Vansbro | Mike, that looks great, Thanks for tip.
The rods that go between the fender and firewall, is it only in convertibles? Bengt |
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Expert
Posts: 2290
Location: Eastern Iowa | Does group 24 and group 27 have the same dimensions?
If not, what's the difference?
Dave S. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 642
Location: Falcon, CO | A group 27 battery is 12" long, while a 24 is about 9-10" long. The group 27 has more cranking amps and was used in big block applications, but I believe it was optional for most motors. My '71 GTX has an 8 year old Die Hard Gold and it cranks like new. |
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Location: The Mile High City | Royal - 2011-04-20 12:04 PM
The rods that go between the fender and firewall, is it only in convertibles? Bengt
Hi, Bengt:
Those "stabilizer bars" only came on the 126" wheelbase cars (Chrysler, De Soto, and Imperial [?]). Dodges and Plymouths and the 122" Chrysler and De Soto did not have them. So, I don't think your Royal would have the correct holes drilled in the firewall and even if you did drill holes in the firewall, they may not line up to a hole in the fender.
When I purchased my De Soto, those were missing. John Quinn noticed and John & M'Lisa Fowlie provided! I thank all three of them each time I open the hood! |
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Location: The Mile High City | For all the big spenders out there, here is the "real deal" battery site that has the good stuff for about $300.
http://www.antiqueautobattery.com/chrysler.html These look fantastic and, though not inexpensive, they are a much better deal than the $500 batteries shown on eBay!
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Attachments ---------------- G24M.jpg (5KB - 316 downloads) G24M_.jpg (3KB - 317 downloads)
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Expert
Posts: 2290
Location: Eastern Iowa | Thanks, I see that site only has group 24's
Oh well, was a nice thought anyway!!
DS |
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Location: The Mile High City | Dave, I think that antique auto battery sells the 27s - but that's not a dress-up kit, it's the real deal. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Do you get a lot of rainstorms UNDER your hood ???
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Expert
Posts: 2290
Location: Eastern Iowa | Call me cheap....I don't care!!
But I ain't paying that kind of coin for a darn battery.
I can replace ALL 4 of the group31's in my Kenworth for that same money!!
Dave S. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 444
Location: Sweden Vansbro | Lancer Mike - 2011-04-21 5:58 PM
Royal - 2011-04-20 12:04 PM
The rods that go between the fender and firewall, is it only in convertibles? Bengt
Hi, Bengt:
Those "stabilizer bars" only came on the 126" wheelbase cars (Chrysler, De Soto, and Imperial [?] ). Dodges and Plymouths and the 122" Chrysler and De Soto did not have them. So, I don't think your Royal would have the correct holes drilled in the firewall and even if you did drill holes in the firewall, they may not line up to a hole in the fender.
When I purchased my De Soto, those were missing. John Quinn noticed and John & M'Lisa Fowlie provided! I thank all three of them each time I open the hood!
Thanks for the info, Mike, I`m just curious, you know, mopar fever,,, |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1107
Location: Arvada, Colorado (NW Denver Metro Area) | Doctor DeSoto - 2011-04-23 12:26 AM
Do you get a lot of rainstorms UNDER your hood ???
Some times in the part of Denver Mike lives in, there is sudden and violent rain squalls under the hood of 58 De Soto's,. Something about the dew point being reached or something...
I do like the red garden hose heater lines....I need to take Mike to NAPA or something... I wonder when his birthday is????? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1107
Location: Arvada, Colorado (NW Denver Metro Area) | Royal - 2011-04-20 12:04 PM
Mike, that looks great, Thanks for tip.
The rods that go between the fender and firewall, is it only in convertibles? Bengt
Bengt, As Mike explained those Cowl to Fender rods stabilize the front clip shimmy of the larger Senior Wheel base cars. Keeps them (Fornt clip sheet metal) from moving around a bit and pinching sheet metal alignment gaps in the hood, doors and fenders.
I see these similar underhood rod supports on more modern "M" body cars (78-92) New Yorkers, Fury's & Diplomats. I need to get some measurements of those versions and compare them to the length of the ones Mike scored from John Fowlie.Migh be close in size for the massive front clip of my humble Plymouth Convert. |
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