FJ55 Battery & Tray

[DTC72]

Ha anyone in the sty replaced their group 24 size battery tray with a group 27 size tray? In my 1969 it looks like there are two additional threaded holes that are about 2” from the holes for the original tray. The holes are closer to the firewall. If yes tell me more.

Alternatively, what are people running for a really good group 24 size battery. I live in Las Vegas where the heat is cruel to batteries. Would like to get a new battery before SAS in the San Juan mountains.

Details:
1985 FJ60 2F engine & starter
Delco Remy one wire alternator
Current battery is 24MF w/ 675 CCA

@J Mack guessing you have something well founded in fact and experience…thanks.

 

[biggestlittle55]

I don't know what a 72 was originally spec'd with, but a group 27 just barely fits in mine, but it ships. Hold down works too with a bit of modifying. The one I have is rated for 810cca. I kind of abused it at first with months of messing with the carb, but it now is fed by a GM 10si and all new cables. Perhaps I have the larger tray you speak of?

AGM is a popular battery type alternative, but no personal experience with them or if they handle the heat any better than normal vehicle batteries.

 

[RUSH55]

I recently picked up an Odyssey AGM34.

Dimensions are -
Length (in.):
10.850 in.
Width (in.):
6.760 in.
Height (in.):
7.820 in.

Odyssey Battery ODX-AGM34 Odyssey Drycell Batteries | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Odyssey Drycell Batteries with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Batteries at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

 

[WarDamnEagle]

If it helps any, here is the information from the parts diagrams on the battery and tray for a 1969 FJ55. Actually it says this information applies to all years. What it unfortunately doesn't tell you is the actual size of the two different trays. I also looked up the information for a middle east FJ55 and got the exact same information, FWIW.

 

[J Mack]

@J Mack guessing you have something well founded in fact and experience…thanks.

I buy these for everything. I like having both terminal options.

X2Power Car and Truck Battery | Premium AGM | 850CCA | Group Size 34/78 - SLI34-78AGMDP

Discover the relentless power of the X2Power Group 34/78 premium AGM car and truck battery with a powerful 850 cold cranking amps. Only available at Batteries Plus.

www.batteriesplus.com

Lookup "Group Size 34/78 battery tray" and you'll have lots of options.

I make one similar to this..

When the X2-power batteries first came out they were a better version of the Odyssey at a better price and warrantee (5 years), the Odyssey engineer that developed their technology left to start Northstar batteries and marketed X2 Power to batteriesPlus when his non-compete was up with the improved battery chemistry. In 2019 EnerSys Acquired NorthStar and also owns Odyssey, they are the same battery with the same warrantee now, street price is within a couple dollars between the two unless you catch one of the BatteriesPlus 20% off internet only deals.

FYI: the one in my forklift is going on 10 years old, it lives a hard life and with our Idaho four seasons winter is especially hard on batteries left outside in the cold.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

I measured mine and it looks like it will just hold a 12" long battery - maybe. The bolt holes are 13" center to center. If you look up those two original batteries, the N50 is ~10" long and the N70Z is ~12" long. They are about the same width.

I also looked back through my disassembly photos. The two holes on the firewall side of the battery tray bracket hold the windshield reservoir bracket (first photo). They appear to be slightly different spacing and maybe one size smaller bolt. There are however two other bolt holes that are the correct size and spacing an inch or two inside one leg of the battery tray bracket (see second photo). These holes/bolts were unused in my pig and look like they would be used for a shorter battery tray. They are of course on the firewall side of the bracket leg furthest away from the firewall.

 

[DTC72]

I measured mine and it looks like it will just hold a 12" long battery - maybe. The bolt holes are 13" center to center. If you look up those two original batteries, the N50 is ~10" long and the N70Z is ~12" long. They are about the same width.

I also looked back through my disassembly photos. The two holes on the firewall side of the battery tray bracket hold the windshield reservoir bracket (first photo). They appear to be slightly different spacing and maybe one size smaller bolt. There are however two other bolt holes that are the correct size and spacing an inch or two inside one leg of the battery tray bracket (see second photo). These holes/bolts were unused in my pig and look like they would be used for a shorter battery tray. They are of course on the firewall side of the bracket leg furthest away from the firewall.

View attachment 3953763

View attachment 3953769

Interesting. I put the washer bottle in a different place as my pig came with a broken one in a parts box so I don’t know where it was supposed to go. Those pictures are super helpful! I will look again for more bolt holes. It do know after measuring I have the smaller size batter tray.

I may just take the easy way out and buy one of the smaller batteries like I have today that @J Mack or @RUSH55 suggest. Guess they are the same mfg now anyway. I knew Jim would have some interesting detail and the rest of the sty would have great thoughts also. Thanks!

 

[bobm]

I think @J Mack was offering to build 1 for ya . I cut the sides off mine and swapped them side to side, dont remember if I added material or not but was able to put dual batts in Blue that way.

 

[DTC72]

@bobm That is a fancy setup. One of my goals is to learn to weld and do metal work. Maybe once I retire in October this year and my fingers don’t have to touch a computer keypad any more!

My setup is below. I added a coolant reservoir as 1969 simply dumped on to the road…simpler times. The two extra holes look to be the same size as the battery tray unlike on @WarDamnEagle setup that looks like smaller bolts/spacing. My washer fluid bottle is on the driver side. The block off plate that the coolant overflow bottle is attached to is where the vent used to be since I added an all in one Vintage Air unit.

 

[thorslc1977]

I bought my 40 new. it came with a Group 27 Yuasa battery. Lasted 8 - 9 years.

 

[DTC72]

I’m sure you all were wondering what I decided to do…not! LOL. Anyway, I decided to go the easy route and just get a group 24 size battery. I went with the Odyssey ODX AGM24. I got Napa to give me 20% off so it was “only” $322 rather than over 400. It has 840 CCA and the X stands for extreme so hopefully good not only on the trails but also the Vegas heat. Man this thing is heavy at 57lbs. The only thing that I didn’t like during install was the depressions on the battery case around the two terminals. I have old school aka cheap terminal connectors and I had to flip them around just to get the connectors low enough on the terminal plus space enough to tighten the bolt. I have always hated the square head that is supposed to not slip on the connector…they always do slip with enough tightening force.