Do I need to upgrade any engine parts

[MarksMinor]

Hi all, First of all my battery is knackered it was a 12v 36ah, Does anyone know if I put a more powerful battery in my car would I need to upgrade any of the starting components, or could it do any damage to the car.
I read a thread before about someone fitting a bigger battery for more starting power, but there was no more info.
If I do need to upgrade, what parts should I use?
If anyone has already done this would you kindly share your thoughts and experiences on the subject.

Many thanks Mark & Aunty Mable(1961 2 Door)

[Onne]

A bigger battery doesn't mean it puts out more Volts, just means the starting capacity is larger, shouldn't be a problem fitting, let say a 62Ah battery. We do it all the time. But why do you need a bigger battery? Modern cars need them, all them gadgets eat electricity as if it costs nothing, on a minor you just have ignition, heater, fuel pump and lights.

If your memory is in bad shape, a bigger battery is useful. If you forget to turn of the lights, they will stay on longer.....

[Gareth]

To keep the standard battery charged, the system should be quite capable, although it may struggle in winter town driving. To keep the battery in top condition, an alternator would be a good upgrade - kits are available from the parts specialists.

If you want to put a higher-capacity battery in the car, then one from a Metro will fit. I fitted one over the winter out of necessity - I needed a battery quickly and couldn't get hold of a Minor one over the Christmas break!

[Onne]

Don't most of the batteries fit then? elisabeth is -ve earth though. I have a 44Ah battery in her. works a treat

[MarksMinor]

So I dont need to change the starter then?
Onne, I think my memory is ok, It was there the last time I looked,
well I think it is..........ok I can't remember where I left it.

Mark & Aunty Mable(1961 2 Door)

[Onne]

I am glad my head is stuck to my torso, I'd forget it. And I am only 20..... Even elisabeth's memory is better... she keeps reminding me to change the front leaf spring bushes or whatever those things are called

[Pyoor_Kate]

So I dont need to change the starter then?

Nope...

Just wack in a bigger battery - have a look at them before you buy them though, the retaining bit of bent metal can be awfully close to the terminals on some of them...

[chickenjohn]

You dont have to change anything (apart from the battery that you're fitting), an alternator can provide better charging, but in my experience the dynamo, if in good nick, is fine for a standard car.

Plus, you cannot easily repair Alternators! Dynamo's are more DIY friendly.

I keep some spare dynamo brushes in my garage, its only about £5 and an hours work and the car is charging the battery again!

As for the rest of the elctrical gear- its fine as the voltage is still 12V and the electrical parts will only draw as much current as they need from the battery.

[Alec]

Hello Mark,

Kate makes a good point,

"the retaining bit of bent metal can be awfully close to the terminals on some of them..."

what is often forgotten is that batteries come with the post polarity either positive right or positive left. The correct, safe location of the terminals is away from the battery clamp, i.e. nearer the bulkhead on a Minor. Depending on the polarity of your car the earthed pole should be on the left looking from the drivers seat. This is one of the problems of doing a polarity change without also buying a new battery.
An alternative is to clamp the battery at the base.

Alec

[Cam]

If you are neg earth, then I think the Halfords battery is a 007 type. That's what I fitted to my 4-door:

http://potteries.mmoc.org.uk/Members_Ca ... 417_01.JPG

The terminals are in the correct position as Alec stated.

Just as a footnote..... actually, the bigger the battery, the larger the charging current is required (for the same state of discharge), but even if you doubled the size of the battery, a standard dynamo can still cope with the charging current.

[Alec]

Hello all,

another point about battery size is that modern batteries tend to be more compact. When I bought a new battery for my Triumph 2.5 the man at the electrical factor looked up the spec and produced this tiny battery. Far smaller than the ones I'd been used to but he insisted it was the right capacity. It has gieven me no problems for about four years despite being re-located to the boot and cranking a 10:1 compression 2.5 six engine. Physically it is smaller than that fitted to my wife's Traveller.

Alec

[jojax64]

I fitted a new Metro battery today (Varta). It's a little "deeper" than the battery that was in there. (From a Nissan Micra, I believe)
Trouble is, now the retaining clamp hooked bolts don't quite reach into their holes!
I've tried to fit the clamp in a few positions, but the hooked bolts just appear to be too short!

[bigginger]

A cheap fix would be a length of threaded bar (bee & queue or somewhere like that) with a hook bent bent in one end.

[Kevin]

Andrews suggestion is fine and then just keep a lookout at autojumbles for a suitable length ones, last year I picked up 8 for a £1.

[Alec]

Hello JJ,

most motor accessory shops sell battery clamps which will probably fit. Another alternative is to re -drill the holes.
While Andrew's suggestion (qualified, admittedly with "cheap fix") can work it looks rough and the steel used is not very good and tends to crack when bent to an acute angle.

Alec

[jojax64]

Bought a pair of 5.5 inch "J" bolts from ESM.
sorted!