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V8-250 Saloon - Battery Positioning & Securing

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classiclife
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V8-250 Saloon - Battery Positioning & Securing

Post by classiclife »

Hello,

I have always been amused (or should I say bemused) by the battery securing set-up on my 1968 V8-250 and I think it may be the same with other saloons.

The battery that came with the car is coded 069 and from my enquiries seems to be correct, however the battery tray could certainly take a bigger beast but the battery is more than adequate. Bigger is not always better.

What I find odd is the securing brace that "tries" to hold the battery in situ & secure without it moving. The 069 battery is narrower (in length) than the securing brace and as such ineffectual really. Additionally the bolts that hold the brace in position - how far can they be wound in to the bulkhead and I presume it is just the bolts going in to the pre-threaded bulkhead holes and that nothing else should be there to secure the brace. It really is quite odd and IMHO a very poor design, one which jaguar Mk2 owners also experience.

Am I right in thinking, that if owners of these cars have experienced the issues of a sliding battery on its tray, then some form of adaptation has been done to prevent this ?? It's a system that could certainly be improved upon or maybe I am missing a component that does stop the battery moving.

I will be very interested to read others experience on this.

Thank you in advance.

Regards.

Richard.
1968 Daimler V8-250 Saloon
DLOC East Sussex Branch Secretary
DLOC 2.5L V8 & V8-250 Registrar - https://www.dloc.org.uk/v8-250
DLOC 2024 International Rally - https://www.dloc.org.uk/rally-2024

Christopher Storey
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Re: V8-250 Saloon - Battery Positioning & Securing

Post by Christopher Storey »

I have never had any problem with the standard setup . It sounds as though there are two possible problems 1. Do you have the battery tray ? This goes a long way towards positive location of the battery ; and 2. Do you have the rubber insert , 21 inches long , which goes betwwen the strap and the battery ? Again, this provides a great deal of "traction" to prevent the battery sliding about . If it has gone hard with age it will be much less effective . And, yes, the bolts just screw in to the captive nuts at the bulkhead - a fair amount of torque is needed

classiclife
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Re: V8-250 Saloon - Battery Positioning & Securing

Post by classiclife »

Hello Christopher,

Many thanks for your email and those 2x points sound positive.

I do have a battery tray (hopefully it is the correct one) but I reckon I am lacking the rubber insert and this as you say could be the issue. I will take a photo and post to confirm what is what.

If it is purely this rubber insert that is required, then this will go a long way to deal with the issue.

Again, thanks for posting.

Regards.

Richard.
1968 Daimler V8-250 Saloon
DLOC East Sussex Branch Secretary
DLOC 2.5L V8 & V8-250 Registrar - https://www.dloc.org.uk/v8-250
DLOC 2024 International Rally - https://www.dloc.org.uk/rally-2024

buckfield
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Re: V8-250 Saloon - Battery Positioning & Securing

Post by buckfield »

Hi, never had this issue in my v8 or mk2 jag, only thing I changed was a swap to a plastic battery tray which for me at least helped the battery location and the tray seems more fixed in place when you use the original clamp setup, but some rubber helps around the battery. no movement at all when done up tight enough. ton

classiclife
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Re: V8-250 Saloon - Battery Positioning & Securing

Post by classiclife »

Thanks Tony, I feel the problem is 99% solved !!

All the best.

Richard.
1968 Daimler V8-250 Saloon
DLOC East Sussex Branch Secretary
DLOC 2.5L V8 & V8-250 Registrar - https://www.dloc.org.uk/v8-250
DLOC 2024 International Rally - https://www.dloc.org.uk/rally-2024

h.j.thomassen
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Re: V8-250 Saloon - Battery Positioning & Securing

Post by h.j.thomassen »

Not on a V8-250 but on my DS420 I have indeed had the problem that the battery slit from its tray (on the way home from the DLOC Int'l in Cornwall). The cause was as described here-above:a misfit between the newer battery dimensions and the design of the tray.

The battery fell down and got stuck against the engine block, which melted away a large corner of the battery case... Luckily I could pull into a lay-by without further difficulties, and I probably was very lucky that no electric shortcut occurred in the engine bay. The RAC breakdown service provided a new battery. From that moment on I have an extra clamping strap (ratchet type) around battery and tray. Later home it took quite some effort to clean the acid from the chassis beams.

hendrik-jan

classiclife
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Re: V8-250 Saloon - Battery Positioning & Securing

Post by classiclife »

Hello Hendrik-Jan,

That was indeed a lucky escape and proves the necessity of a secure battery. I have certainly seen some interesting adaptations on various vehicles over the years to achieve a secure battery - some of which are 100% dangerous, the mind boggles !!

Regards.

Richard.
1968 Daimler V8-250 Saloon
DLOC East Sussex Branch Secretary
DLOC 2.5L V8 & V8-250 Registrar - https://www.dloc.org.uk/v8-250
DLOC 2024 International Rally - https://www.dloc.org.uk/rally-2024

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