Battery box question

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06boblee
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Battery box question

Post by 06boblee »

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I'm getting ready to install my battery box, and wonder what to do about the 5 drain holes in the box that match 5 holes in the cab. There is about a 1/4" space between the two, are there specific gaskets that go there- maybe rubber?
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ashyers
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Re: Battery box question

Post by ashyers »

Bob,
There are some rubber bits that go in there for drains, they reminded me of the rubber drain/vents used on Mercedes vehicles. My truck's were still intact when we pulled the box, but I didn't take any photos.

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Re: Battery box question

Post by Cal_Gary »

Correct, it's a little squishy rubber tube I recall a couple of inches long (I don't have them on mine anymore as they were rotting away).
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sturmtyger380
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Re: Battery box question

Post by sturmtyger380 »

I wonder if the M151 battery tray rubber 'squishy' tubes would fit in there?

Mine were long gone as was most of the box bottom. I had to find a good takeoff box and weld in new cab flooring under the box.
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m-11
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Re: Battery box question

Post by m-11 »

The four large outer holes are for bolts that mount the box to the cab. The four small inner bolts mount the battery tray to the box. The single larger hole within the four small holes is the drain hole. The originals had a metal drain tube that was part of the battery tray and a hose was clamped on it and extended through the drain hole in the box and through the floor. Save yourself the trouble and use optima batteries instead of lead acid and you won't have a venting issue. I've been running optima batteries in my 151 since 2009 and have not had an issue with corrosion in the battery box and they outlast lead acid batteries.
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Re: Battery box question

Post by 06boblee »

m-11 wrote:The four large outer holes are for bolts that mount the box to the cab. The four small inner bolts mount the battery tray to the box. The single larger hole within the four small holes is the drain hole. The originals had a metal drain tube that was part of the battery tray and a hose was clamped on it and extended through the drain hole in the box and through the floor. Save yourself the trouble and use optima batteries instead of lead acid and you won't have a venting issue. I've been running optima batteries in my 151 since 2009 and have not had an issue with corrosion in the battery box and they outlast lead acid batteries.
My box and tray were bolted down with the 4 inner bolts. the big outer holes are about 1/4" above the cab floor- no bolts there. Have been told that there is a rubber grommet that goes into the cab holes, and the battery box sits on them.
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Re: Battery box question

Post by just me »

The ORD9 lists no rubber drains, grommets or mounts in the parts breakdowns.
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06boblee
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Re: Battery box question

Post by 06boblee »

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found some grommets. They fit tight to the box.
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Re: Battery box question

Post by John Mc »

m-11 wrote:Save yourself the trouble and use optima batteries instead of lead acid and you won't have a venting issue. I've been running optima batteries in my 151 since 2009 and have not had an issue with corrosion in the battery box and they outlast lead acid batteries.
What size of Optima batteries did you end up going with? What type, Yellow Top?

Another bonus of AGM batteries is that they have a significantly lower self-discharge rate, so there is less change of finding them dead if you have not operated the vehicle in a while (Still good to leave a good battery-minder hooked up to them when they won't be used, but it's nice to know they will last longer if you forget.)
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Re: Battery box question

Post by 06boblee »

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all back together.
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Re: Battery box question

Post by RMS »

very nice! are you going to top it off with a couple AGM battery's to preserve the beautiful job ?
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