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Thread: Battery Box FIRE!
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admin
Administrator
Posts: 446
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posted August 06, 2005 09:51 PM |
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Battery Box FIRE!
So, I'm tuning my truck around my hood, accelerate H-A-R-D hard off a stop light when the truck dies. D-E-A-D dead. Headlights, dashlights, engine... "Shit!!!" wait for traffic to clear to pull over, look over my sholder, and there's f-ing smoke puffing up from the rear. "Double S-H-I-T shit!" Jump out, throw up the battery box cover, see some small flames (I just blew them out) The flames came from the upper portion of the battery hold down that [was] covered with that rubber dip type stuff.
Apparently, I launched so hard that the battery + terminal came in direct contact with the hold down, and welded the tightening bolt right to the top, and shorting, keeping everything else from running. I burned my finger (2nd degree) prying the hold down off the battery, but was sucessful in stopping the current flowing. After waiting 5 minutes or so, examining the damage on the side of the road, I start to try and break the weld between the now-welded terminal and the top... I had to remove the battery completely out of the compartment and kick the terminal to knock it loose.
I put a doubled up rag over the battery, and held the still-very-hot top to the side door with a bungee, and was able to get the truck started again (started right up!) and drove it home.
I'll be taking the box off and re-dipping it in that plastic stuff tomorrow, and putting a new covered battery terminal on... But I've come to the conculsion that I have the wrong battery in there... it's too tall and deep... and not wide enough... What's the size/type of battery that's in youse guys trucks?!
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klaus42
Rotorhead
Posts: 1877
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posted August 07, 2005 12:36 PM |
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Crazy!
Glad you and the truck came out of it alright... Dunno the actual, vintage, 'proper' battery designation --always seems to be plenty of extra room-- simple solution: wood 'shims' to take up the slack... not elegant, but functional. Better: A revised b-box holddown system that is 'race ready' and 'bulletproof'! (Brad?)
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admin
Administrator
Posts: 446
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posted August 07, 2005 06:39 PM |
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Exide
Found some from Exide... I think I'll get the NASCAR one :)
YEAR, 1975-78
MAKE, Mazda
MODEL, Rotary Truck
O.E. GRP, 24
CCA, 450
SELECT ORBITAL, ORB78DT-84
NASCAR SELECT, 24-84N
CLASSIC 72, 24-72
EXIDE 60, 24-60
EXIDE LTV, 24-LT-60
EXIDE 50, 24-50
DUAL TERMINAL 78 DT, 78DT
DUAL TERMINAL 75 DT, 75DT
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mwpayne1
Redlining
Posts: 239
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posted August 08, 2005 02:14 PM |
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I'd like to know more details of the 'dipping in plastic stuff'..what exactly is that?
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admin
Administrator
Posts: 446
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posted August 08, 2005 02:23 PM |
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Plasti dip:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=2779
And Spray:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=42776
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I'm The Admin, thats why!
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TIMPA136
Redlining
Posts: 325
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posted August 08, 2005 09:17 PM |
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launch shorted battery
Battery shorts definitely get my attention also. Sounds like you got the battery group size under control. I stay away from the dual terminal types unless you really need it for a custom application, otherwise it is another chance to short. Hope that burned finger is healing; they say to put cold ham on it!? Glad that battery didn't blow acid all over your truck.
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Jeff20B
Moderator
Posts: 661
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posted August 09, 2005 09:55 AM |
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Group size 24 is what I use. They are the correct height, but seem too narrow.
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'74 REPU
'76 Cosmo
'77 MG Midget 13B
'81 RX-7
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klaus42
Rotorhead
Posts: 1877
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posted August 09, 2005 01:27 PM |
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Optima gel cells
..are another really good, extra-safe and powerful way to go...
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sparky
Redlining
Posts: 299
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posted August 10, 2005 03:59 PM |
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Hey Admin,
I'd stay away fron the NASCAR batteries. Last year I had one short circuit in my mini-van. It fritzed out my dash and messed the body control module. The sad thing is it weas 1 year old and I lost the recept so I counldnt exchange for new one. Good luck, Sparky.
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'77 REPU
Stock 6-port
T-2 tranny
Weber IDA 48
Alum Flywheel
3rd gen Torsen in rear end.
DLDFIS ignition
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rotormunky
Redlining
Orlando, Florida
Posts: 424
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posted August 10, 2005 06:09 PM |
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I think it was Klaus who mentioned these things, and I know they're expensive but I've been consistently impressed with the quality of Optima gel cells. Super high power and resist the heat (an issue down here on the surface of the sun). Plus you can mount them upside down if needbe :)
Think Klaus might have mentioned that too :)
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-Martin
Orlando, Florida
http://www.themonkeyhouse.org/REPU
'77 REPU (Some assembly required :)
'91 Cabrio (Battered and bruised, but she's still my baby.)
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admin
Administrator
Posts: 446
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posted August 18, 2005 07:58 PM |
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Follow up: got a red top optima :)
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