Large capacity battery?

[Maurice_Minor]

I have a 1967 Minor convertible. At the moment it has an 038 battery in it which although seemingly healthy struggles to turn the car over when it has been left for a week or two in the cold. The battery compartment clearly has room for a larger battery. Can anyone suggest a battery that will fit & has the negative terminal on the right hand side?

[KeithL]

From browsing the internet a type 038 battery seems to have a capacity of around 36Ah and a CCA of 320A.

On our 1959 Traveller I use a Yuasa Silver HSB063 from Halfords which has a capacity of 52Ah and a CCA of 520A. With the terminals against the bulkhead the negative is on the right looking at it from the front

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/batte ... 60930.html

Alternatively (or as well as) you could look to getting a battery conditioner to keep it fully charged when not in use. I have the CTEK MXS 5.0

[Maurice_Minor]

Thanks for the info. Are the battery compartments the same size in Minors & Travellers. I was under the impression the Traveller had a larger compartment.

[ManyMinors]

From browsing the internet a type 038 battery seems to have a capacity of around 36Ah and a CCA of 320A.

On our 1959 Traveller I use a Yuasa Silver HSB063 from Halfords which has a capacity of 52Ah and a CCA of 520A. With the terminals against the bulkhead the negative is on the right looking at it from the front

I assume your car has been altered to negative earth then?

There is plenty of choice of batteries. The standard 038 is indeed a small battery and also relatively expensive for its power output because not many are made or sold now. The larger capacity 063 battery is often no more expensive and much better value and a particularly good choice if your car has been converted to negative earth because the the terminals should then be in the correct positions. I don't like the idea of reversing the polarity of a car and having the steel battery clamp almost touching the 2 battery terminals Therefore, I feel it is worthwhile taking that into account when choosing a new battery as well. My car is still positive earth, so the opposite way around to KeithL's car

[geoberni]

I can think of no reason why there should be any difference in size of the battery shelf. There's not a reason for them to do so.
Checking the Part Catalogue, there was a change in part number of the Battery Box from AAA 4798 to ALA 2993 during production, but it applied to all versions and it was in the mid 60s.

So you have a 038 battery, as Keith said, that's physically small, and low power at 36Ah, even compared to the original spec of 40 or 43Ah.
There's a number of batteries options out there, but I would stay clear of 'stupidly big' as you're carrying around unnecessary weight and it'll cost a lot more.
Some people on the fb group have been asking 'What Battery? recently and getting advice to use a Transit Van battery just because the poster thinks the bigger the better....
Some swear by the 063, which is a bit of an odd battery since different makes vary in capacity, which kind of defeats having a Type Number
It can be anything from 45Ah 400CCA to 50Ah 500CCA.

Personally, I fitted a 005L; the 005 comes in L or R, denoting the same battery but with Left or Right terminal arrangement.
The 005L, fitted with the posts at the back in the Minor will put the Positive Post on the left as viewed, i.e. Negative Earth.
e.g.: https://www.batterymegastore.co.uk/?s=T ... pe=product

The 005 is 60Ah and 500CCA dimensions are typically L230 x W175 x H225mm, compared to a typical 038 at 245 x 135 x 200.
I found the standard battery retainer still fitted without any problem.

[KeithL]

I assume your car has been altered to negative earth then?

Correct, mine is now negative earth.

Like you I wouldn't want to fit the battery clamp with the terminals at the front.

[geoberni]

I assume your car has been altered to negative earth then?

Correct, mine is now negative earth.

Like you I wouldn't want to fit the battery clamp with the terminals at the front.

When I got my car, it had a 005R fitted, I suspect that was the battery that had been fitted when the PO had changed it over the Neg Earth.
I too wasn't convinced about the forward battery posts....They'd just put a bit of Duct tape on the retaining bar as a safety measure.
But that battery was quite tired and didn't hold charge all that well. hence why I fitted a 005L.

20170906_112623.jpg (429.45 KiB) Viewed 1495 times

[ManyMinors]

The size of the battery box did not change on the Minor. Neither is there/was there any difference between the saloon and traveller.

[Maurice_Minor]

My Minor is front left positive; front right negative earth.

[Maurice_Minor]

There are not many Positive left batteries bigger than the 038, but that still fit in the compartment.
This looks interesting:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/192795127590 ... media=COPY

[mobylette]

The 075 battery suits a negative earth application well:

https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/yuasa/ybx1075/

[geoberni]

There are not many Positive left batteries bigger than the 038, but that still fit in the compartment.
This looks interesting:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/192795127590 ... media=COPY

Why is it interesting?
That's an 057, which would require the terminals placed at the front....
I agree most batteries will require the 'front label' to be placed at the rear to get the posts at the back.

This company have a battery finder where you can search for all different dimensions. https://www.tayna.co.uk/tools/battery-wizard

[simmitc]

If anyone has trouble getting a battery with the terminals the right way round, then it is easy to move the earth cable to the other side of the battery box and fit a slightly longer cable from the solenoid to the non-earth terminal. It can be fed through the cavity between the cross member and the bottom of the battery box to give it protection and stop it flapping around. I'm not recommending this, it's just a good work round allowing the terminals to remain at the back.

[geoberni]

The 075 battery suits a negative earth application well:

https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/yuasa/ybx1075/

I'm guessing that your one, being a grey case, is a Yuasa 5000 - YBX5075 at 60Ah 740CCA, and you've peeled the labels off?
https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/yuasa/ybx5075/

I'm looking to peel the labels off my Yuasa 3000 - YBX3005 and fit a Lucas sticker

[mobylette]

I did peel the labels off, and it was a Hankook battery:

https://batteryfactory.co.uk/products/0 ... ca-en-510a

[Maurice_Minor]

The 075 battery suits a negative earth application well:

https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/yuasa/ybx1075/

I wonder how they get nearly double the Ah out of a battery not much bigger than an 038. I think trying your idea might work although the Positive lead might have to be replaced for a longer one. I think it might be an inch or so short if I have to stretch it to the rear.

[Maurice_Minor]

I can think of no reason why there should be any difference in size of the battery shelf. There's not a reason for them to do so.
Checking the Part Catalogue, there was a change in part number of the Battery Box from AAA 4798 to ALA 2993 during production, but it applied to all versions and it was in the mid 60s.

So you have a 038 battery, as Keith said, that's physically small, and low power at 36Ah, even compared to the original spec of 40 or 43Ah.
There's a number of batteries options out there, but I would stay clear of 'stupidly big' as you're carrying around unnecessary weight and it'll cost a lot more.
Some people on the fb group have been asking 'What Battery? recently and getting advice to use a Transit Van battery just because the poster thinks the bigger the better....
Some swear by the 063, which is a bit of an odd battery since different makes vary in capacity, which kind of defeats having a Type Number
It can be anything from 45Ah 400CCA to 50Ah 500CCA.

Personally, I fitted a 005L; the 005 comes in L or R, denoting the same battery but with Left or Right terminal arrangement.
The 005L, fitted with the posts at the back in the Minor will put the Positive Post on the left as viewed, i.e. Negative Earth.
e.g.: https://www.batterymegastore.co.uk/?s=T ... pe=product

The 005 is 60Ah and 500CCA dimensions are typically L230 x W175 x H225mm, compared to a typical 038 at 245 x 135 x 200.
I found the standard battery retainer still fitted without any problem.

Thanks for the info. I'm still a little confused, will the 005L when installed with the terminals on the front on the front (As in the pics) present me with Negative on the right & Positive on the left?

[mobylette]

Here is a picture of an 005L spec battery:

[NETTIE]

Got my Lucas 065 online fits and works perfectly

[mobylette]

Shiny ! my eyes