Best battery for a TC

[timandgerda]

Hi all - has anyone got a recommendation for the best (or most suitable really) battery for a TC. I'm UK based by the way.
Cheers
Tim

[Steve Simmons]

You'll probably get a many opinions as replies, but I use the Westco AGM out of a first generation MX-5. It's small and lightweight with plenty of power, and it leaves enough room in the battery box for a couple quarts of oil, a bottle of brake fluid, a spare coil, spare distributor, a few rags and some fuel hose. I've been running these batteries in most of my old cars for probably 15 years.

[Ian R]

My TA spends most of it's life parked and keeping the battery charged is (was) a chore..
After my lead-acid battery died, I figured that there had to be a better way.
Lithium batteries, especially LIFePO4 batteries, last for years & thousands of charge cycles compared with high hundreds for a lead-acid battery.

So I took the plunge & got a Shorai LFX 36 amp hour battery off eBay.
Not cheap but a definite long term saving in replacement batteries & aggravation.
It has 540 CCA & spins my engine very over quickly.
It is tiny by comparison to the lead-acid battery that it replaced plus it is a fraction of the weight.

I park my TA with 13.6 volts on the battery in each November.
No charger or battery refresher, just a bare battery sitting disconnected all winter, often well below freezing.
In early April, I reconnect the battery & it was still at 13.6 volts.
After cranking up to get oil pressure, my TA fires right up.


If you are using a normal T series dynamo, then a straight battery replacement has worked fine for 4 years now.

However, because the Lithium battery seems to have a lower resistance than an lead-acid battery,
if your car has an alternator or dynamator (whatever the alternator in a dynamo casing is called), then beware as the alternator easily pumps out 14.6 volts into the lithium battery with 45+ amps after a slow engine start up.
While the lithium battery can take up to 14.6V to 14.8 V for short periods, it is happiest between 14.2V & 13.0V
These 14.6V surges will reduce battery life so I had to come up with a solution.

I have the same Shorai lithium battery in my ‘54 Morris Minor that is fitted with an alternator.
I tested & fitted a 12V Schottky diode with a voltage drop of around 0.4 volts for $15 from amazon.
This diode will handle 80 amps and is intended for charging batteries in trailers & a stopping back drain when the tow vehicle is parked.
Now the highest voltage I've seen at the battery is 14.1 volts & the battery in the Minor is 8 years old & counting.
Again, no winter battery tender is required.

[Rob Reilly]

I just bought a battery for my TA. The size is 26R. It goes behind the seat under a cover so nobody sees it.
There was a core change of $12 which you get back if you turn in an old one.
Pay attention to which side you want the positive and negative terminals.

[antijam]

Depends how keen you are on originality. The original hard rubber battery was quite long and required you to lift off the bonnet (not hood -I'm in the UK too) to fit or remove it without a lot of hassle. A modern Classic 242 battery is visually identical to the original available at a wallet draining price from a number of UK companies - Lincon, Shield and Tayna are a few.
I've used Tayna exclusively for car batteries over the last few years; their choice is wide, delivery is fast and reliable and alternatives are available over a wide price range. Tempted as I was by the hard rubber original when replacing mine, since on the car it's hidden under a lid I opted for a more practically sized modern alternative - this one. It's much cheaper than the 242's, it can be fitted without removing the bonnet and it can be shipped wet as opposed to he hard rubber type that must be delivered dry and then acid filled by you. It's been on the car for 6 years now, trickle charged during the inactive winter months and starts the car every time without problem.
When choosing any battery for the TC, check the width carefully before buying; 171 mm is the max. that will fit the aperture.

[DavidSmittle]

Quick note for those living in the States. Do not buy an Interstate Battery. The quality used to be excellent but not any longer. They are horrible. Save your money and sanity by avoiding (Ask me how I know... Much frustration experienced over the past year.)

[timandgerda]

Thanks all - think I will go with the modern one