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#21
Electric, Gauges, & Lights / Re: What battery do you use?
Last post by Kern Dog - December 16, 2024, 07:39:36 PMI've had 2 Optimas and neither held a charge as long as a quality Lead-Acid battery. I don't know if this was normal for the design but it was what I experienced.
The Optimas are heavy too.
Lately I have been on a path of shedding weight in the car when parts get replaced.
I shed 14 lbs with a Borgeson steering box, another 14 when I changed to different front brakes which have aluminum hubs, a different spare tire is 21 lbs less than the stock one. I used aluminum parts where I could. I'm at around 3940-3950 right now.
The Optimas are heavy too.
Lately I have been on a path of shedding weight in the car when parts get replaced.
I shed 14 lbs with a Borgeson steering box, another 14 when I changed to different front brakes which have aluminum hubs, a different spare tire is 21 lbs less than the stock one. I used aluminum parts where I could. I'm at around 3940-3950 right now.
#22
Electric, Gauges, & Lights / Re: What battery do you use?
Last post by timmycharger - December 16, 2024, 03:46:06 PMI am not sure of the size but I have been using this Optima red top battery since around 2016. Mounted in the trunk, this is an old pic as its now enclosed fully but with this setup, spins my 440 with no troubles unless hot then it is a little slower.
Im a big fan of these batteries. My brother in law still has the same yellow top Optima battery that he bought from the auto parts store in 2012 when he was working there, someone brought it in as a core for a new one. It just needed a charge and its been in his 72 Maverick since.
Im a big fan of these batteries. My brother in law still has the same yellow top Optima battery that he bought from the auto parts store in 2012 when he was working there, someone brought it in as a core for a new one. It just needed a charge and its been in his 72 Maverick since.
#23
Off Topic Discussion / Re: 3d Printed Dodge Ram proje...
Last post by timmycharger - December 16, 2024, 03:32:03 PMQuote from: Kern Dog on December 16, 2024, 03:20:48 PM"Never have too many hobbies" ?
Ha....some people will disagree with that! I sometimes think that I am a borderline A.D.D. case that somehow slipped through the cracks because my interests bounce around to several things quite often.
Cold weather regions probably inspire MORE indoor hobbies when the climate drops below freezing temperatures. You guys have a far greater tolerance for weather than I do...Cheers to you for your determination.
I have enjoyed car and truck models since I was a kid. I liked making custom stuff but never could have dreamed of actually creating bodies and parts for them myself! This is great.
Thanks! yea I am right there with you being borderline A.D.D. I have heat in the shop but when the cold weather hits, I'm usually in the basement tinkering on something. Trying to finish this project so I can jump to the next one which is re creating my current 68 Charger from a 1:25 kit. That will be for my office
#24
Off Topic Discussion / Re: 3d Printed Dodge Ram proje...
Last post by Kern Dog - December 16, 2024, 03:20:48 PM"Never have too many hobbies" ?
Ha....some people will disagree with that! I sometimes think that I am a borderline A.D.D. case that somehow slipped through the cracks because my interests bounce around to several things quite often.
Cold weather regions probably inspire MORE indoor hobbies when the climate drops below freezing temperatures. You guys have a far greater tolerance for weather than I do...Cheers to you for your determination.
I have enjoyed car and truck models since I was a kid. I liked making custom stuff but never could have dreamed of actually creating bodies and parts for them myself! This is great.
Ha....some people will disagree with that! I sometimes think that I am a borderline A.D.D. case that somehow slipped through the cracks because my interests bounce around to several things quite often.
Cold weather regions probably inspire MORE indoor hobbies when the climate drops below freezing temperatures. You guys have a far greater tolerance for weather than I do...Cheers to you for your determination.
I have enjoyed car and truck models since I was a kid. I liked making custom stuff but never could have dreamed of actually creating bodies and parts for them myself! This is great.
#25
Off Topic Discussion / Re: 3d Printed Dodge Ram proje...
Last post by timmycharger - December 16, 2024, 12:19:13 PMTaking a break from the 68 for a bit since its too cold to drive it and the roads are already salted. Got back to playing around in the basement shop again on this project which has stalled a bit due to me not knowing how to handle the "glass".
I ended up making templates for the windshield, side glass and back glass out of cardboard, then traced them onto some clear plastic lexan sheet. The hard part was making the curve of the windshield as this lexan is thick and does not bend easily and if it does, it will deform and look like crap. I ended up using my heat gun and carefully heating up the lexan and bent it over a buck that I found that was the shape I needed. Did this for about 15 minutes and got it almost perfect (second and third pic). It sat right into the channel and I just ran a bead of superglue to hold it in place until I fabricate the gaskets which will be just some strip plastic glued in and painted black.
End result isnt too bad, will look better once I detail around it with the gasket painted black.
No pics yet but I also started working on the lights, retrofitting a light kit made for a Ford Bronco with the same square headlights and turn signals. It will have working tail/brake/reverse lights as well. Ill post those once I get further.
I ended up making templates for the windshield, side glass and back glass out of cardboard, then traced them onto some clear plastic lexan sheet. The hard part was making the curve of the windshield as this lexan is thick and does not bend easily and if it does, it will deform and look like crap. I ended up using my heat gun and carefully heating up the lexan and bent it over a buck that I found that was the shape I needed. Did this for about 15 minutes and got it almost perfect (second and third pic). It sat right into the channel and I just ran a bead of superglue to hold it in place until I fabricate the gaskets which will be just some strip plastic glued in and painted black.
End result isnt too bad, will look better once I detail around it with the gasket painted black.
No pics yet but I also started working on the lights, retrofitting a light kit made for a Ford Bronco with the same square headlights and turn signals. It will have working tail/brake/reverse lights as well. Ill post those once I get further.
#26
Electric, Gauges, & Lights / Re: What battery do you use?
Last post by 69hemibeep - December 16, 2024, 09:13:01 AMMy group 27 restoration battery gave up but it should be an easy fix. When I unscrew the caps I see cables and a smaller battery in there, lithium I'm guessing. Time to cut the bottom out of it.
#27
Electric, Gauges, & Lights / Re: What battery do you use?
Last post by Kern Dog - December 16, 2024, 04:27:23 AMI've found that removing the seat really helps for access to the underside of the dash or steering column stuff.
I have a group 24-ish sized battery from the NAPA store. I'd post a picture but every one I have is above the size limit for this site.
I have mine in the trunk. I relocated to the trunk in 2013 based on the thought that by moving it back there, that it improves traction and handling. What I've learned is that while it may have done those two things, it adds weight to get there. I have longer battery cables that run from the engine back to the trunk now. I have a battery box that is slightly heavier than the stock tray.
I've been casually considering a switch back to mounting the battery up front but with a Lithium battery that is smaller than the stock group 24 size.
A buddy of mine has a group 24 Lithium battery that looks stock in size but only weighs 7 lbs! My lead acid battery is 40 1/2 lbs. My CCA is something like 800 @ 0 degrees. His is 700 at a degree I don't recall. I noticed that my battery never goes over 12.6V no matter what I do. His was at 13.08V and when I tried his battery in my car, my starter spun the engine over way faster that ever.
There are people that are leery of using a Lithium battery and I do understand the hesitation. There have been some that are prone to fires and are hard to extinguish. There are newer Lithium designs that are much safer and all of this stuff is getting better and safer as time marches on.
Swapping batteries is a 33 lb difference. When the cumulative weight of the longer battery cables is factored in, A swap to a front mounted Lithium battery could result in at least a 50 lb weight loss.
One thing that I like about a trunk mounted battery is the extra room under the hood. I'd want to see if anyone makes the safe Lithium Titanate design with adequate CCAs while being thinner than a Group 24. In short, I don't mind the length and height but I'd want something thinner so it doesn't crowd the radiator and A.C compressor/hoses like a stock battery does.
I read recently that OEM batteries from our cars were often 400-500 CCAs. The batteries we often use are more powerful that the originals even if we don't have powerful stereos or any additional electrical accessories in the car.
I have a group 24-ish sized battery from the NAPA store. I'd post a picture but every one I have is above the size limit for this site.
I have mine in the trunk. I relocated to the trunk in 2013 based on the thought that by moving it back there, that it improves traction and handling. What I've learned is that while it may have done those two things, it adds weight to get there. I have longer battery cables that run from the engine back to the trunk now. I have a battery box that is slightly heavier than the stock tray.
I've been casually considering a switch back to mounting the battery up front but with a Lithium battery that is smaller than the stock group 24 size.
A buddy of mine has a group 24 Lithium battery that looks stock in size but only weighs 7 lbs! My lead acid battery is 40 1/2 lbs. My CCA is something like 800 @ 0 degrees. His is 700 at a degree I don't recall. I noticed that my battery never goes over 12.6V no matter what I do. His was at 13.08V and when I tried his battery in my car, my starter spun the engine over way faster that ever.
There are people that are leery of using a Lithium battery and I do understand the hesitation. There have been some that are prone to fires and are hard to extinguish. There are newer Lithium designs that are much safer and all of this stuff is getting better and safer as time marches on.
Swapping batteries is a 33 lb difference. When the cumulative weight of the longer battery cables is factored in, A swap to a front mounted Lithium battery could result in at least a 50 lb weight loss.
One thing that I like about a trunk mounted battery is the extra room under the hood. I'd want to see if anyone makes the safe Lithium Titanate design with adequate CCAs while being thinner than a Group 24. In short, I don't mind the length and height but I'd want something thinner so it doesn't crowd the radiator and A.C compressor/hoses like a stock battery does.
I read recently that OEM batteries from our cars were often 400-500 CCAs. The batteries we often use are more powerful that the originals even if we don't have powerful stereos or any additional electrical accessories in the car.
#28
Charger Discussion / Re: It is hard to be invisible...
Last post by Kern Dog - December 16, 2024, 01:05:51 AMQuote from: Back N Black on December 15, 2024, 07:02:07 PMQuote from: Kern Dog on December 14, 2024, 06:10:08 PMI like to reverse the images sometimes just for fun. I forgot that one was reversed!
Are you the clean cut dude at the back of the patina charger?
I looked like that a few years ago....Not as much nowadays. Age and gray hair is creeping in a bit.
Kidding....I don't look that bad all the time now!
#29
Charger Discussion / Re: It is hard to be invisible...
Last post by Back N Black - December 15, 2024, 07:02:07 PMQuote from: Kern Dog on December 14, 2024, 06:10:08 PMI like to reverse the images sometimes just for fun. I forgot that one was reversed!
Are you the clean cut dude at the back of the patina charger?
#30
Car Guys Discussion / Anyone near the Kansas city ar...
Last post by ACUDANUT - December 15, 2024, 05:06:03 AMI have a 76 318 4x4 and the 727 trans is toast.
I live in Gardner KS
I live in Gardner KS