Jump starting a vehicle

[Gary_in_Indiana]

The car I bought for my Mom last time around reminded me once again why I like trucks. When it came time to change the battery in that car I found I had to remove a support rod to just get to the battery then had to flip it on end to get it out. The exact reverse of that procedure was needed to install the new one. I had to set it on the battery tray on end then work that end under the fender, secure it, then replace the support rod.

Oh, yeah... I had to stop the removal and installations each with the battery at about a 45 degree angle to access the negative terminal. I couldn't get to it with the battery flat on the tray and the cable wasn't long enough to allow you to get the battery on it's end before you addressed that task.

I was just happy I got as good a battery as I could so I wouldn't have to do this again for a few more years. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[hazmat]

Big dave,

RTFM (Read the Freaking Manual) My dad's Benz has the battery under the rear seat, it has lugs under the hood for jump starting

 

[MikePA]

My wife's MGB had 2 six volt batteries underneath the package tray behind the front seats. Of all the problems we had with that car, I can not recall ever having to jump start it. Eventually, we replaced the the two six volt batteries with a 12v in the trunk.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Mike, that was a holdover from the A model. At least on the A, you could easily jump start or charge the batterys from under the bonnet by attaching at the starter switch. Those silly B models employed the Americanised twist key for starter system, so they were probably a bigger pain to jump start.
BTW, there was a small 12 volt Delco battery that fit well in the right battery carrier. Adding water to the battery was always fun too.
A roadsters RULE!

 

[MikePA]

I always thought the MGAs were a better looking car (kind of a mini-XK120) than the MGBs. Never cared for the Midgets. They were too small for me anyway. The B was the first car my wife ever purchased, I just got to maintain it! /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif She was the second owner of this 1974 MGB (pre-ugly bumpers) and kept it for 10 years. When we had our first daughter, my wife soon realized that the B wasn't all that practical, so we sold it.

The 12v in the trunk was a standard maint free Group 24 (I think) battery in a plastic battery box.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

The 57, 1500cc A was the first car I bought, used, and I still have it tucked in the nose of one of my storage trailers. People with a pull knob to activate the starter always used to look down their noses at the twist key vehicles.
The A was a nice car, but I really loved the TD & TF roadsters, just never ould get my hands on one I could afford to own.
Ahhh, early mornings, on the way to work with your feet roasting and snotsickles freezing from your nose, now that's driving.

 

[BigDave]

It comes with a manual? Where do you think they put that?/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[bgott]

I've installed a lot of group 24s in MGBs. A little hammer work on the right battery box and they fit right in.

 

[wetside2]

Franz,
I had a 1956 MGA. Your desciption of the drive to work is exactly how I remember it too. Another fond memory of the A was the leaky rag top and rattling side curtins. In the winter the red leather seats were constantly damp and the dye would soak through my pants and turn my briefs pink. What a car! I sure wish I still had mine.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

My ragtop had been replaced by a vinyl top, and the rattles were part of the enjoyment in a car without a radio.
Did you have the flipup side curtains or the sliders? I have both, and mamaged to replace the sliding half of mine with lucite for a better fit.
My roadster has green seats, so bleeding underwear wasn't a problem.
Morris Garages built a fun product!
Then again, mayhaps the nightmares have faded from my memory. I do recall the night some sumbich ripped off my tool kit by opening the trunk and helping himself.