FYI FORD MustangSteve's Ford Mustang Forum / Batteries?

**Posted by daily driver** 10/27/2018 5:42 AM

I see factory batteries installed with terminals away from the fender skirting, having the cables extended towards the radiator. Wonder why? I have my battery installed terminals close to fender skirting using less cable from the starter solenoid to positive side of battery. Was this because they only made batteries a certain way in the 60's? Surely not?

**Posted by Bullet Bob** 10/27/2018 7:02 AM

Having been a genuine Sears Battery Technician way back in '64, I can assure you that batteries were made in just about any size and configuration you might want at the time. I have a 67 right front apron in our 66 and I'm using an Optima with the posts near the fender also. Just be dang sure that the battery is secured and that you ALWAYS remove the negative cable first and replace it last. With that positive so close to the fender it would be real easy to get a wrench to contact the fender apron and the positive clamp at the same time...and that can be an experience you don't want if the negative is still connected.

BB

Last edited by Bullet Bob (10/27/2018 7:04 AM)

**Posted by TKOPerformance** 10/27/2018 8:20 AM

Ah the old wrench to the + terminal. My grandfather called that a Bahamian Battery Tester. We spent a lot of time on a small island in the Bahamas when I was young. The natives were very "creative" sometimes when it came to fixing stuff.

**Posted by BobE** 10/27/2018 8:55 AM

FYI - My sister's 66 Mustang had a small (maybe 3"x3") rubber insulator riveted to the fender by the positive terminal that appeared to be factory installed, although I have not always seen these on other Mustangs.

**Posted by daily driver** 10/27/2018 10:11 AM

Thanks. I thought so.

**Posted by 66 coupe** 10/27/2018 1:14 PM

There were two style of batteries back in the 60's, the Group 24 and Group 24F. Guess what the "F" stood for? (Actually, there were a couple more but this was the 75% market share).
The "F" battery was identical to the standard 24 except the posts were reversed, hopefully to prevent the positive terminal from being so close.
I too was a technician in the 60's and fixed more than one car by it having enough battery cable length to allow the other battery.

**Posted by Texas!** 10/27/2018 10:10 PM

BobE wrote:
FYI - My sister's 66 Mustang had a small (maybe 3"x3") rubber insulator riveted to the fender by the positive terminal that appeared to be factory installed, although I have not always seen these on other Mustangs.

65's didn't have it, 66's did. Apparently numerous reports of people/mechanics welding their 1/2" wrenches to the fender apron prompted Ford to add it to the 66's.

**Posted by Texas!** 10/27/2018 10:15 PM

66 coupe wrote:
There were two style of batteries back in the 60's, the Group 24 and Group 24F. Guess what the "F" stood for?
The "F" battery was identical to the standard 24 except the posts were reversed, hopefully to prevent the positive terminal from being so close.

It's the other way. The 24F has the positive post right next to the fender apron. This resulted in an extremely short cable to the solenoid. Apparently Ford engineers assumed people/mechanics would see the need to disconnect the negative cable before putting a 1/2" wrench on the positive clamp.

**Posted by Bolted to Floor** 10/28/2018 8:20 AM

I prefer to keep the battery posts as far from the fender skirt as possible. Up next to the fender and a slip of the wrench could provide a light show of sparks!! Doesn’t do well for the paint either.

**Posted by Mark Hone** 1/07/2019 3:39 PM

Sorry I am kind of late on this thread but, how the hell did Ford staple the little rubber mat to the fender apron near the positive post. I mean, what would that stapler look like?

**Posted by Hornman** 1/07/2019 7:22 PM

Mark Hone wrote:
Sorry I am kind of late on this thread but, how the hell did Ford staple the little rubber mat to the fender apron near the positive post. I mean, what would that stapler look like?

I was just looking at that rubber sheet on my ‘66 today. Mine is held on with small push-in rivets, rubber I think, but after 53 years they are pretty hard.

**Posted by BobE** 1/10/2019 8:38 PM

Mark Hone wrote:
Sorry I am kind of late on this thread but, how the hell did Ford staple the little rubber mat to the fender apron near the positive post. I mean, what would that stapler look like?

I would guess this mat was installed prior to installing the battery.

**Posted by rtmjr13@optonline.net** 1/14/2019 1:45 AM

I personally save the little red and black caps that come on the battery posts when new and put them back on when doing work. Year ago i managed to contact both posts with a 1/2 inc wrench-nuff said! I have a draw full of red and black post covers!

**Posted by TKOPerformance** 1/14/2019 3:39 PM

rtmjr13@optonline.net wrote:
I personally save the little red and black caps that come on the battery posts when new and put them back on when doing work. Year ago i managed to contact both posts with a 1/2 inc wrench-nuff said! I have a draw full of red and black post covers!

I'm reminded of my grandfather referring to a wrench as a "Bahamian battery tester". We spent a lot of time in the Bahamas when I was a kid. The natives were...well, mechanically creative is probably the best way to put it.