Here's a question for all you Mav experts. I'm going to buy one of those repro batteries from Antique Auto Battery. The picture of their group 24F model (with the terminals on the right side, closest to the right inner fender) shows the positve terminal to the front, and the negative terminal back by the solenoid. Rotate the battery 180 and the positve terminal is back by the solenoid, but on the inside (toward the engine). Does anyone know the "correct" way the battery goes in the battery box? I've looked through my 72 shop manuals for a picture, no luck. Why do I ask? I'm getting a set of repro cables from the same company and want to make sure the positive battery-to solenoid cable and the ground cable are the right length. Maybe someone out there has a picture of a stock engine compartment? Thanks. Tom p.s. My week isn't going all that well. First, I tried to install the cam in my 250 six, it wouldn't go in!! The machine shop that boiled out the block and fitted new cam bearings used the wrong size. Haul the block back, get new bearings put in, then drag it back home. Whatever. So I put the cam in, then open the timing chain set boxes and find the crank gear is too small!!! Maybe I'll take a break from the garage this weekend and do tax returns for family members who are too cheap to pay someone.
Accorrding to factory promo pictures I found in a magazine of a 1971 Comet, the battrey posts go toward the engine side....NOT the fender side. This places the positive post toward the back of the car, and the negative post to the front of the car. This places the positive post close to the starter cylinoid. Also, on the reproduction batteries that are made, keep this in mind. Those batteries are VERY expensive and only last 4 or 5 years if you are lucky. Not a good lifespan for $130 spent. That is why I went with the battery cover that is now on Tom's car I sold him. For $35 you get the "look" of an old time battery, covering up a modern "no maintanence" battery which can be bought anywhere.
Hey Craig Selvey... Hey Craig, what kind of batteries do you use that you get more than 4 or 5 years out of? You must have way beeter luck than I do. 3 or 4 tops here. I don't care how well you take care of them. My next one is going to be an Optima. I have tried all the rest.
Honestly....I buy "blems" at the local battery store for $25 each. They are made by Exide and are brand new. If they get a scratch on it, it is considered a "blem". Keep in mind, I store my car in the winter time, so my battery doesn't get the day to day use a daily driver does.
thanks Craig Craig, thanks for digging out a picture. I went out and looked at the Grabber this morning and pretty much arrived at the same conclusion you had. By looking at the original cables, albeit with new terminals, it was evident how the battery was positioned from the factory. I appreciate the tip on battery life, though I'll probably go ahead and get one anyway. Maybe we can "deal" on the battery cover at the Round-Up. The Auto Krafters Maverick catalog lists a 24FHC heavy duty version with 550 CCA (475 for the 24F), wonder who makes the batteries they selll? Later. Tom
I talked to Antique Auto Battery and discovered that the Autolite StaFull logo is only on one side of the battery. If you turn the battery so it is oriented per Craig's old picture (poistive toward the engine and in the back), the side of the battery that shows is blank. Think I'll just stay with the maintenance-free batt Craig installed in the Grabber. I've got plenty of other Maverick stuff to p*ss the money away on. Tom
I have owned my 72 my whole life, my mom bought it new, so it is pretty original. The negative terminal always has faced toward the front of the car.
