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MG MGA - Battery Location

I rarely drive my 1956 MGA and would like to relocate the battery as it is a pain to install when I want to put some exercise miles on it. Has anybody done this? Any Ideas are welcome but lets keep it serious no Strapping it to boot or other such things.
I had a fuel gauge that read backwards and the comments I received were things like mount the tank upside down and the problem will go away.
I know I'm leaving myself open, Please try and control the
humor how ever if you can't I will except the fact that MGA drivers are funny people. Come to think of it you have to be to drive a vehicle with wooden floors and a lot of original equipment that never works.
Cheers Lar
L E Marchand

Lar

Why do you want to keep removing it? Most of us leave it in situ and just keep it trickle charged. I have fitted a socket to the rear wooden bulkhead, wired it to the battery. Periodically I plug the charger into the socket.

http://www.mgaroadster.co.uk/odds_and_sods.htm

Steve
Steve Gyles

Lar - I did the same thing as Steve did, installed a socket out of sight so I can attach a battery tender/conditioner to the battery during periods of inactivity. Don't just get a trickle charger as long periods of a trickle charge still over charges a battery and drops the electrolyte level. Most auto parts stores and places like Eastwood http://www.eastwoodco.com sell battery tenders or battery conditioners that keep the battery at optimal levels over long periods. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

Fuel gauge reading backward is a mismatch between gauge and sending unit. MGB units work opposite of MGA units and are often mistakenly interchanged. Check first that you have the right Jaeger fuel gauge. Then check resistance of the sender unit. MGA sender should be about 70 ohms with full tank, 0 ohms when empty.
Barney Gaylord

Lar,

I suppose that it is unlikely that you do not have a heater, living in Canada, but I have attached an image of how the MG factory fitted the battery on cars entered in the Sebring race.

Mick


Mick Anderson

Thanks for the feedback.The reason I want to remove the battery from the car is I drive it a few miles once a year. Our weather can get as high a 100 deg f. to -40 deg. The small storage garage I built for 2 cars and the MGA is tucked in a corner and not very easy to get at when both cars are tucked away. If I was to have a problem with the battery it would be a long time till I would know it.
Thanks for the info Barney I will be looking into this with the help of your site.
Mick as far as the picture of the battery mod I think its great. This I may look into as this car is only driven in summer.
One last thought I have a Ultima battery in my daily driver this is a dry cell battery. Has anybody had any experience with these types as they seem very clean and don't seem to corrode on the outside as others do.
L E Marchand

I was going to suggest an Ultima to further minimimize faults, with that, in combination with the trickle, there should be no problem. I must observe that the time and effort you spend moving the battery would outweigh any additional minimal inconvienience you would face for years to come. And then we would have onse more butchered MGA.
Steve Meline

To charge or jump a MGA I hook the cables to the block and the battery side of the starter switch. No need to ever remove the battery execpt to replace it. Keep it clean in situ. An Optima battery is a great way to go.
R J Brown

Steve
I think your right the fact of butchering is not what I want to do. Anyway thanks to all I really have something to think about. I have uploaded a pic of my car
Lar


L E Marchand

Lar,
My comment was harsh. You obviously care about your beautiful car. And it looks great!
Steve
Steve Meline

Steve
Your comment was in line as your right.
Lar
L E Marchand

Lar -

Don't you also want to preserve the ability for fresh air at your feet in the summer? Trickle charger and Ultima would be the way to go.
Another Steve
Steven B

........as it happens my battery of 10 years is starting to go and the discussion thread re Optima batteries struck a chord. If anyone has installed one of these, can you share model/color of battery (red/blue/yellow)?//nk
N Kopernik

Some postings say Ultima batteries and some say Optima batteries. Are they the same thing or two different items?




Mick
Mick Anderson

Optima is the only manufacturer that I am familiar with that is definitely made for auto and marine applications. The only reference I could find for Ultima was for laptop batteries and other portable devices.//nk
N Kopernik

This thread was discussed between 12/07/2008 and 15/07/2008

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