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I have a new Optima battery for my 1928 526 Sedan. Since they are much smaller than the lead acid 6V, what creative ways have you used to safely install one in the passenger side battery box. I am sure solutions are good for many different models/years with this location for battery.

Thanks,
Rob

A couple of possibilities. John Ulrich has fabricated a battery tray designed for the Optima for use in later models that have the battery under the car. Modify one of those trays or fabricate something along the same lines to custom fit in your battery box might be one option.

Since the Optimas use a base arrangement with a tab on each end going under a clamp instead of a top hold down, another option might be to pick up two sets of number 730-2401 universal battery clamps from Napa. Using the wide Z shaped piece from each kit, attach those in some fashion to the bottom of the battery box.

If trying the clamp option, the Napa clamp piece is slightly taller than the battery tab so you might need to bend the Z or use a thin piece of sheet rubber to take up any extra space to prevent bounce. Since the box is wide you might also need a spacer or to fashion a stop to prevent the battery from sliding side to side and working out from under the Z pieces.

Howard - Thanks for some good options to pursue. I had not seen the battery box inserts on the Ulrich site. One of those might fit in the earlier space with some modification.
Rob

if you are capable of a little welding I can show and tell you what I built for my 28.

In a '40
This also has a 6v+ to 12- converter and a charger wired to the battery posts.

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I find screwing a few 2x4s together takes u close the OEM size. C H E E P

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Dell, I would like to see what you have done. I do not have welding equipment myself but have access to somebody who does.
Thanks,
Rob

Thanks! Looks like that car has some power with two in parallel!
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Hi Rob; i will get some more pictures today and post them.

Hi Rob; I used two pieces of 1 1/2 angle iron tacked together for the base, then used some 18ga with 5/16 holes in the center with 1/4- 28 nuts tacked over he holes. I tacked the 18ga to the lags of the angle iron to line up with drain holes in bottom of the box. In the pictures you can see the 18ga bent and welded to the fixed end and the removable end that attaches with 2 1/4-28 bolts in the drilled and taped holes. I hope this help and not difficult to build. Dell

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