Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

Where can I find a photo of an original battery hold down for 1947 Packard Super Custom Clipper? Are these being reproduced? Thanks

The battery retainer for the 'long skinny' battery (group# 4.00073, part# 373007) was used from 1941 through 1950. There were literally hundreds of thousands made. They show up on eBay frequently and are available used from Kanter Bros, Max Merritt and probably other vendors. The price varies wildly so I'd shop around.

Attach file:

---

  (13.08 KB)

When I bought my 1950 Packard Series 23 it was missing the battery hold-down. I bought a repro one from Ebay for about $40 and installed it. The repro one looks different than the original one shown in the picture.
Later I found other ones for sale on Ebay at much lower prices and with several different designs. Some look original.
Recently I got a bunch of Packard used parts from a guy who made his car into a street rod. An original battery holder was in the pile, so I cleaned it up and painted it to go on the car back to the original look. Then I found out it was slightly too small to fit the NAPA battery in my car. It misses by maybe 1/8 inch or less. Since steel does not stretch much I will have to wait till this battery gets replaced.
This is just advice to measure the length and width of the battery with care and be sure you get the holder that fits.

Quote:

Good advice. Remember that Buick, and I think some other GM vehicles, used a narrow battery and the retainers from those vehicles may be different. The retainer on my 23rd series (original) fit my NAPA battery fine; if anything, the retainer is a tad too long (the NAPA battery I bought is apparently slightly shorter than the original).

BCI lists the maximum dimensions of a Group 2E at 19-7/16 long x 4-1/8 wide by 9-1/8 high.

I found this photo and cropped it . . is this the correct hold down?
Thanks

Attach file:

---

  (51.44 KB)

No, I don't think that's correct. The Packard retainer has the holes centered not offset as your picture shows.

I have had the same problem with replacement batteries being too wide for the hold down to fit. I removed the two long straps from the inside of the end caps and reattached them to the outside of the end caps on the hold down. I have shown my bathtub Packards since 1981 at PAC national meets and at AACA national meets never had points deducted for the modification. It is just a idea.

I went to an old junkyard yesterday, I retrieved this from a 1948 22nd series 2262, do any of the current crop of reproduction battery retainers have this detail? Thanks

Attach file:

---

  (61.27 KB)

My repro battery holder looks very different than your photo. That old one in the photo looks like my "original" one. It is a better design than the repro one too.