What is the best battery for a Triumph TR7?

[Ally]

Hiya All

I'm gonna try getting KBA a new battery. I've had the Halford's good quality ones recommended to me, but is there any one in particular I should get for a standard TR7? I was just gonna get one about the same size as my old one...but I thought I'd check with the experts first!

Cheers,

Ally

1980 Triton Green Metallic TR7 DHC - currently putting up a fight!

[Beans]

I have got a Bosch SR 45Ah in 't Kreng. I bought it this month exactly 10 years ago. After all those years it is still 100%. That's what I call a good battery. I have to admit that I am waiting for it to fail sooner rather than later[:I]. And probably not available anymore[?]

Don't have any experience with Halfords. Not even sure if they sell batteries over here, so no help there. B.t.w. don't expect a battery to last more then approx. 4 years these days.

[Rust Restorer]

Ally. My KBA has an Exide WO38TE 350 Amp 40 Amp Hour Battery I can recomend, quite expensive, The other TR7 has a cheap Wilco brand Type 124 350 Amps, 42 Amp Hour, again no probs. Size should be 5 inches Wide x 9 inches long x 7 inches high, any bigger will not fit battery tray.
No experience of Halfords, but wherever you buy it ask them to check the charge! as I have bought batterys in the past which have immediatly failed!

Andy
1980 DHC Cashmere Gold
1981 FHC Persian Aqua Blue

[Todd]

Would a battery that is 5" wide by 8 1/2" long by 8" high be too tall? After installing the 'stay' bar would it rub the underside of the bonnet or cause some other mischief? I don't have a car yet so I can't check.

[UKPhilTR7]

I too am looking for a new battery as mine I think has seen better days. If you go to halfords and look in the book under Rover Group, they tell you which one is for the TR7. I must admit, that I didn't want to get it though as it was the smallest one there and I thought it looked a little weak compared to the others around. Have you tried Motorworld? I think thay are a lot better than Halfords and have a greater selection.
You could always put the battery in the boot and then you can have what ever size battery you want. Possibly overkill I know, but may be an angle to look at.

[FI Spyder]

The problem is the width of the battery is very small so the battery has to be quite high to get the usual cranking power. The only battery that will comfortably fit while leaving lots of top clearance is a Miata battery. The original battery (Panasonic) is a gel mat technology which has it's own set of problems. Others make this type of battery for much cheaper (Westco). If too discharged you have boosting and charging problems as it can only handle like a few amps with the rest being turned into heat. (not good). Fortunately some companies make that size in standard lead/acid. Interstate Batteries makes one but I'm sure there are others in your particular country.


TR7 Spider - 1978 Spifire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra

[TR Tony]

I got a new battery from my local agricultural merchants. If you have someone like Mole Valley Farmers, Mole Avon Farmers, SCATS or the like near you, try them.

They are obviously aiming to sell batteries for agricultural use, but I just looked through their reference book under Rover Group & found a high capacity Fiamm battery that fitted my FHC perfectly. And it was cheap - under £30 with a 2 year warranty. It's now 3 years old & behaving perfectly, even though the car doesn't go out much this time of year.

I don't know if you guys in the States have similar retailers but if you have then take a look!

Tony

[saabfast]

I tried Halfrauds last year for a new battery, can't remember exact story but the listing did not include the TR7. My existing one (fitted by the PO) was from there, the same ref as the Mini one, looked new but wouldn't hold a charge. The guy at the counter looked it up on the computer and gave me the correct on, a larger size - and much higher price, about £70 IIRC.
As I was going for tyres on the Saab I checked in Setyres and they offered one for £25, again larger than the existing. I was concerned about the height but it is just OK and clears the bonnet and intake cowling. Worth trying the tyre dealers as a number are cheaper.


Alan
Saab 9000 Stg 1
'81 TR7 DHC

[tr7jim]

The UNIPART Battery I have fitted to my TR7 is Part No GBA 3015.

The details on the battery as follows

EN 310

A/HR 40

R/C 60

I purchase this from James Paddocks if you are near Chester.

Jim Johnson

[bmcecosse]

Costco do a whole range of excellent quality batteries for v fair price. One I bought 7 years ago is still cranking well. Certainly Hellfrauds are stupidly expensive for most stuff - especially batteries/oil in fact just about anything!

[colonel bogey]

I tried getting a GBA 3015 from my local Unipart factor,they said that the 3015 was discontinued and superceded by 3038 but this is no good as it is a standard type of battery,lower ah & cold cranking,doesn't last 5 mins,still on the look out for a cheaper alternative to Halfords unit,mind you must check what price is with my trade card is?

Greg


'76 TR7 FHC Auto Java Green
"Colonel Bogey"

[silverseven]

Hey Todd!
haven't seen you around the board for a while now, do you finally have a lead on a good one???

My battery went flat a couple of years back now, and the closest automotive store still open was the local Canadien Tire (it was the night before a show, and I didn't have much choice...)
After the usuall (and fruitless) process of vehicle description to the kid behind the counter, followed by the long search through the database, naturally there was no listing for the TR7 (ironically though Spitfires do exist at CDN TIRE)
So then, left with no other option, out comes the tape measure, and the tried and true method of measuring the batteries in stock we found a battary that comes real close to the factory dimensions. (according to the kid, it's a replacement for Honda Civic's)
I ended up purchasing a Eliminator, part number 10-5100-8 with a 3 year free replacement garranty.

-To answer your initial question, the battery measures in at 9 inches long, 5 inches wide, and 8 inches high (9 inches if you go to the top of the +/- posts.

Hope this helps.

Ron.

[Rich in Vancouver]

Silver7,
I also got my battery from Canadian tire, and ended up with the Honda one as well. I managed to avoid most of the steps as I have found in the past that the Canadian Tire staff just go blank when you mention anything British so I went in with tape in hand, went behind the counter, measured up the available batteries and said "I'll take this one."
It doesn't seem to have a lot of cranking power but has worked out OK.
I find that all of our local auto parts stores, other than the couple of specialists are hopeless with Brit parts so I generally don't tell them what the parts are for, just what I need. One of the local shops knows me as the guy with the wierd old cars and seem to get a kick out of my looking for strange and unusual parts. (Note: I would never try this with Canadian Tire!)

Cheers,
Rich

1975 TR7 ACL764U

[Todd]

Hey Ron;

Yeah I'm hoping to get a FI '81 from the States. I'll know better in a week or so. This forum will be the first to know.

[silverseven]

Very cool, hope it is the year and colour combo you were searching for.....

Ron.