Battery & Battery Tray Options

Is anyone running a non-standard battery in their CJ5? We've come to the point in our project where we need to figure out the battery tray. Cant go in the original spot on the firewall because of an auxiliary heater my dad installed years and years ago. I should also mention its a fiberglass body so 30lbs of battery hanging off the firewall might not be ideal. It got me thinking about an alternate solution.

I have this Odyssey AGM in my boat https://www.amazon.com/ODYSSEY-PC680-Odyssey-Battery/dp/B0002ILK6I it is set up as the starting battery only, but it cranks my 225hp V6 outboard just fine.

I dont know enough about batteries to consider this a viable solution but the size is appealing for the Jeep.

Can anyone weigh in? Suggestions for battery tray options also welcome!

 

I made mine to fit my battery of choice using 1" angle mitre cut and welded to the size of my battery.. I then put two angle supports under it. Mine is in the factory location on a glass body with no issues.

 

I use a pc680 in my ‘75 TR6 that has a 9.5:1 compression ration 2.5 straight 6. I am using a gear reduction starter. It works great in that application. It’s a summer car so sits for about 7 months. I hook a battery tender to it for couple days about every other month. When I start it in the spring, I disable the fuel and ignition and crank till I get good oil pressure, which takes about 45 seconds to a minute. I do it in about 15 second intervals. The battery never has any issues with this. This is the third season I’ve run this battery and I’ve been very happy with it. I got the idea to try it out because it is the same battery I’ve been running in my Piper Supercub for the last 10 years. That has a 320 cubic inch horizontally opposed four cylinder but is only 8:1 compression. It also has a gear reduction starter. I fly the cub year round and the pc680 has had good cold weather performance. Those are two very different applications than a Jeep. I’m not currently planning on running one in the Jeep. One of the reasons is i’m planning on setting it up for plowing. I would say it depends on what your intended use for the Jeep is. Are you going to have a winch or other high draw accessories. I’m sold on the AGM batteries. You can definitely use a smaller than oe size. If your not running a winch or other high draw items, you have a good charging system, and you have a gear reduction starter you could probably use a 680 and be very happy with it. Look at Odyssey’s web site and you could find something that is a bit bigger than the 680 but still much smaller and lighter than a group 24 lead acid battery.

Tim

 

The heater is up pretty high, and only has an inlet/outlet for the coolant so something lower could work as long as it doesnt interfere with the manifolds. Whats the reccommended CCA for the Dauntless?

Glad to hear you havent had any issues! is the glass reinforced in that area at all?

the PC680 in my boat is 6 years old and is still holding up pretty good. The Jeep wont have any extra lights, winch or plow. Just standard electrical + the extra heater motor and a more modern radio. I'm in CT so it will probably get driven occasionally from when they clean up the salt on the roads to when they start to put it down again. Roughly April to December. Ill shop around on Odyssey's site.

Thank you Howard, we've got a 58 chassis with a V6 swap, but thats a good question to keep in mind when searching for a different battery.

Ill have to post up a photo of the engine bay later to show how much room we've got under the hood.

 

This is perhaps a bit extreme but it has served me really well for almost 50 years. CJ 3B with a glass tub.
From the frame off circa 1975:


2008:


About a year back when I was reworking things:

 

Here's what I have for room in the engine bay.

 

I'ld go with a larger plate or frame with plate, go all the way the grill support bracket and have the battery inboard of the tubes.
Agm's don't care about orientation so it can be on end.

 

I have had good with the AGM (Super Start) batteries from O'Reilly's.
Bought 6 in a few months. 2 each for the M38A1's, 1 each for both Hondas. Put on in my son's TJ and one in the Toyota pickup.
Good cranking amps and have held up well. Cheaper than the Optima, but comparable specs.


Dave

 

I made that plate, and I have a lot more 1/4" aluminum plate that can probably cover that whole side. Thanks for the ideas!

I will have to look into the Super starts, thanks for the suggestion
!

 

Options are limited by your imagination. This has work for me for 20+ years. Actually the first mod I ever did on my jeep.

 

Most options are limited by my inability to weld! That bracket looks great though, thank you for sharing.

 

Just reading up on this. The PO of my 71 CJ5 mounted 2 batteries roughly in the area the stock battery went. The batteries are mounted 90 degrees from the orringinal position and notched into the inner fender well. I can post pics tonight.

 

My CJ came with some sort of aftermarket battery cover to replace the stock tool well cover under the passenger seat, with a square battery holder bolted to the floor. I've never seen one again, but it may be an option for a simple build.

I'm not a fan of fancy aftermarket batteries. I've found standard 'ol Wally world batteries to be more than adequate and last just as long. If you find you're letting the rig sit, you can drop a float charger on it and keep the battery up.