MGB & GT Forum

For those running 6 volt batteries, the 17hf size is not readily available. Other sizes are. What other sizes fit? I know a single 12 volt is easier to work with, but that is not the question. Thanks!

Are you just trying to replace one six volt battery? Are you trying to keep your car as original as possible? Just curious as to why converting to a 12 volt battery is not what you want.
https://www.interstatebatteries.com/car-and-truck-batteries
At the bottom of the page of the link I'm posting is a contact link. You can always ask them the dimensions of six volt batteries and their post locations.

Emmanuel a group #1 6 volt battery used to fit in my 1963 MGB battery Boxes.
They are still used in the farm and construction industry in older tractors and equipment.
measure them because battery dimensions differ between manufacturers.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2025-01-27 07:58 PM by Watauga.

Ok, I'm going to cop to a failing memory but......the avatoar and "Kimberly" name seem to bring back memories of a gal who years ago provided a lot of electrical advice on MGE and who I believed to have passed away. Am I losing it?

Steve

They are available - at about $270.00 each. Shipped dry.

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Jeffrey W. Delk
Hartwell. Georgia USA
1950 MGTD #2301,1954 MGTF 1500 #7673,1957 MGA
1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider,1967 MGBGT,1971 MGB Tourer

I guess I should change my avatar. I just came back and realized my password still worked.
Got rid of the MG some time ago and now I'm looking for another one The choices are slim pickings.

I just replaced the 6V in the '48 panel truck with an AC Delco 1-HD6V. I compared it to the size of the Group 26 Wally World battery.

AC Delco 1-HD6V
8.625 H
9 L
6.8125 W

Walmart Group 26
7.8 H
8.2 L
6.8 W

Looks like the 6V is about 1" taller than the Group 26. That may or may not make a difference. Otherwise the 1-HD6V should fit.

I first thought that was expensive but I've just checked and here in the UK a pair of 6V batteries would cost around £160 before postage. So maybe not that bad afterall considering. I gave up on the 6V battery a long time ago though, just found them so unreliable especially in cold weather.

Jim

I've still got two 6 volt batteries. The latest ones are high power, big CCA,and reliable / long lasting. Winter temps.in UK are no problem to them. I used to fit battery maintainer over the winter, but find it's not necessary. Most bad reports of 6 volt batteries, come from years ago, when they weren't as reliable or powerful as new ones today. There are more battery posts to care for, but if you can clean 2 posts ok. You can clean 4. And they don't often need cleaning anyway. They cost more than one 12 volt, but over 10 years or more, it doesn't work out too bad.

I do agree that many of the problems with the original 6v batteries were due to those horrible "helmet" connectors. They were hopeless. I also think that the 6v batteries we used back in the 1970s were based on 1950 era designs. They just didn't do well in Canadian winters.

But the real question today (even with modern technology 6v batteries) is why? A modern 12v battery is powerful enough to crank a big V-8 engine - so why not save the weight and the money for our little 4 cylinder engines? And, if you have a modern starter, the load is about half of what it once was.

Unless you are going for Concours restoration, there doesn't seem to be any rational reason for twin 6v batteries instead of a single 12v. Even the factory came to that conclusion near the end. I've long wondered if they didn't use 6v batteries for so long if they hadn't (back in the 1950s) signed some long term contract for 6v batteries, and the price was just too good to ignore!

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Terry Ingoldsby
terry.ingoldsby@DCExperts.com