cranking amps needed For 87 bronco II

[master hec0]

the battery in my bronco II i think is too small it only has 500 CCA what is a good cca rating for a bronco II 2.9L v6 4x4 im in southern alberta canada so it gets cold here.

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

I think your truck calls for the crazy shaped 66 series battery (skinny and tall).
You may have to Mod the tray a little and change the ground and positive to the Solenoid if its not long enough but it will be worth it.
Get a 65 series (BCI number) Battery,No matter who makes it,pound for pound it gives you more Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) for its size than any other Battery.
If you can snap a pic I can tell you what series it is and what you will need to make the other fit.

 

[master hec0]

thats what i have in my bronco right now is a skinny and tall battery it looks like a motor cycle battery just taller. it fits just fine right now but it will die after about 2 cranks and winter is coming so i know it wont hold up i just wanted to know what the minimum CCA i will need during the winter to start my truck the size/shape of the battery doesnt matter i got plenty of room i could just about fit a diesel battery without modifying the box.

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

Minimum CCA=SUCK
Maximum CCA=START

It dosent matter what your starting.........A 5 horse Briggs or your 2.9...........Go with the highest CCA your budget will allow.

And dont got to Walmart!

 

[master hec0]

fine better question will a 525 cca battery work? i have a friend that bought a brand new battery but he got the wrong one and cant return it. or what is the factory battery rated at? my budget is extremely tight hence why i bought the 20$ junkyard battery that is dead

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

525 CCA is pretty much spec on anything gas,as it being new it should clock out above that.If its new and you can score it on the cheap.......snag it.

 

[master hec0]

yeah its brand new with a 2 year straight exchange warranty for 35$

 

[goodolboydws]

For future reference:
I run a group size 34 in my stock battery tray, the biggest capacity one I could find, which will fit in the B2's narrow battery tray.
Its 10.85" L x 6.85" W x 8.09" high, (according to their website-and my measurements)
The tray itself could hold an even LONGER and TALLER battery, but nothing wider.

Its an EVERSTART MAXX 34 from Walmart, and I'm just picking up the third one today.
The last one (now dead after 6 years) was made by JOHNSON CONTROLS, but they may be made by a different company now.

Again, according to their current website, EVERSTART MAXX 34 rated at 800 CCA, which is ordinarily overkill, but helps extend the between-charge-intervals if your B2 sits a lot, as mine does now. Its got a 3 year FREE replacement and I'll find out today if its still prorated out to 6 or 7 years as it used to be.

Its also high enough capacity that I can swap it into either my DIESEL tractor or '89 Crown Vic if needed-without a worry. Which has happened.

 

[4x4prepper]

I have been using this with my B2/winch, seems to work okay. Granted, I rarely see below 32F:

Duracell Ultra BCI Group 24M 12V 500CCA Flooded Marine & RV Battery - SLI24MDC at Batteries Plus Bulbs

Group 24 12 volt replacement deep cycle battery for marine, boat and RV use. Stay out on the water longer with this powerful 75 amp hour deep cycle battery!

www.batteriesplus.com

 

[goodolboydws]

I have been using this with my B2/winch, seems to work okay. Granted, I rarely see below 32F:

Duracell Ultra BCI Group 24M 12V 500CCA Flooded Marine & RV Battery - SLI24MDC at Batteries Plus Bulbs

Group 24 12 volt replacement deep cycle battery for marine, boat and RV use. Stay out on the water longer with this powerful 75 amp hour deep cycle battery!

www.batteriesplus.com

It may survive a deep discharge better, but that one's only 500CCA
AND Marine batteries are CCA rated at a MUCH HIGHER AMBIENT TEMPERATURE than automotive batteries.

ALSO, (actually even more importantly), deep cycle marine batteries require a higher RECHARGING voltage than many recent automotive ALTERNATORS can provide -in order to FULLY charge a car's battery in a reasonable amount of time.

This was less of a problem in the "good 'ol days" when many car alternators could put out as high as about 16 volts when needed, whereas newer alternators are DESIGNED with built-in voltage limiters that allow about 13.5 volts or even lower as a maximum.

The lower a voltage at the same AMPERAGE output, the longer it takes to provide the same energy/wattage to the battery. This isn't usually a problem until a battery gets cold, or deeply drained from long cranking times, or after heavy amp loads at low rpms (think winch) or when the engine is not running.

Look at the examples below to see what actually happens when a lower maximum voltage output alternator is is used to recharge a given battery. And how a lower voltage makes the same alternator work closer to its maximum output. Which shortens the alternator's life.

Volts x Amps = Watts Volts x Amps X Hours = Watts per hour

16 Volts x 80 Amps =1280 watts 16 Volts x 62.5 Amps = 1000 watts per hour
15.5 V x 80A = 1240 watts
15V x 80A = 1200 watts 15V x 66.7A = 1000 watts per hour
14V x 80A = 1120 watts 14V x 71.4A = 1000 watts
13.5V x 80A = 1080 watts 13.5V x 74.1A = 1000 watts
13.2V x 80A = 1056 watts
13.0v x 80A = 1040 watts 13.0V x 76.9A = 1000 watts
12.8V x 80A = 1024 watts
12.6V x 80A = 1008 watts 12.6V x 79.4A = 1000watts
12.5V x 80A = 1000 watts 12.5V x 80A = 1000 watts

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

What year is your Bronco?

The factory tray had seen a better day in my '85 like most first gens (similar to 84-88 Bronco II's)



So I removed it, drilled three holes

And installed a bricknose (87-90ish) fullsize tray



And now it takes a 65 class battery



The MTP-65HD I have is 850CCA and 1000CA.

BUT watch out around the tray. I think a 2.8 would be ok (watch alternator) and I think a first gen 2.9 would be similar aside from possible airbox interferance. A 89-90 has a different tray that is riveted in and sits at an angle and it may not fit at all with one of those.

Just an idea for a possible upgrade, especially if you have a first gen and your tray is toast like most. Really a quality replacement battery should be enough.

 

[ford4wd08]

What year is your Bronco?

The factory tray had seen a better day in my '85 like most first gens (similar to 84-88 Bronco II's)



So I removed it, drilled three holes

And installed a bricknose (87-90ish) fullsize tray



And now it takes a 65 class battery



The MTP-65HD I have is 850CCA and 1000CA.

BUT watch out around the tray. I think a 2.8 would be ok (watch alternator) and I think a first gen 2.9 would be similar aside from possible airbox interferance. A 89-90 has a different tray that is riveted in and sits at an angle and it may not fit at all with one of those.

Just an idea for a possible upgrade, especially if you have a first gen and your tray is toast like most. Really a quality replacement battery should be enough.

I think I'll do the same on my B2 with the tires battery tray. Thanks for the pics.

 

[ford4wd08]

@85_Ranger4x4

Where did you get the battery tray from??

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

@85_Ranger4x4

Where did you get the battery tray from??

JY. Like $10 IIRC, works great if you have the room. There was a brace I cut off and I clearanced the one corner to miss my alternator (5.0 Explorer)

https://flic.kr/p/2kpGJhs
Also watch the placement, the wedge bolt is to the front and if you go too far forward you will lose it under the radiator support.

 

[goodolboydws]

Is that the OEM radiator in your photos? (The neck looks further away from the battery than in my '86)