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MG MG Y Type - Battery replacement for YB

My currently fitted lead acid battery in my YB needs replacing and after checking various websites and retail outlets I have noticed batteries described as Calcium eg. Halfords Calcium battery HCB063, CCA 440. These seem to have bigger cold cranking amp values than their equivalent sized lead acid counter parts. Can these calcium type of batteries be used in my 1953 MG YB or can they only be used in vehicles with alternators fitted and does my vehicles positive earthing arrangement cause any difficulties?
E W Platt

Good questions and I don't have a direct answer.

My question is why? The standard lead battery that fits the (classic) Mini is very suitable for our use, cheap and readily available.
Willem vd Veer

Interesting point Willem.

I have a YB and my wife drives a classic Mini. My YB has the same type of battery as the Mini. It seems to work OK, although it does not fill the box. This is due to advances in battery technology, which has reduced the physical size of the battery for a given capacity. The plates are thinner and closer together. I have had to fit a block of wood to fill the empty space and stop the battery moving around.

I had to replace the battery on the Mini yesterday. I was supplied with a calcium type, which the supplier said had now superseded the lead acid type. It looks exactly the same as the old one, but the cold cranking output is higher. The battery code is different to the old one, but I was assured that it was correct.

In theory the new type of battery should work fine in the YB. The positive earth should not make any difference as the current will still flow the same way through the battery. The difference is that the other end of the battery is connected to the chassis, but the battery will not notice the difference!

The dynamo output differs from an alternator at low revolutions. As a qualified Engineer, although not an electrical one, I cannot see how this will make any difference to the charging of the calcium battery.

Mike
M Long

For my own education I've looked into the different batteries.

Apparently there are:
- Conventional lead acid batteries
- Lead calcium batteries
- Calcium calcium batteries

I understand that the big disadvantage of the calcium calcium battery is that it needs a high powered (16V) dynamo to charge properly (as f.i. in a modern Ford Focus), so not suitable for Lucas generator use?

The lead calcium battery would indeed be an improvement because of the cold cranking output and a lower selfdischarge rate.
Willem vd Veer

Your research is correct Willem.

I have asked my autoelectrician friend and he confirms that for a standard Alternator and or Generator/Dynamo set up, these are not good. They are high discharge, low recharge rate. So for my money, I would say stick with Lead Acid batteries for now - unless you want a Prius MG Y.

Paul
Paul Barrow

Can anyone please confirm that the "classic Mini" battery which is mentioned here is the 038 model?

Many thanks
D A S Hibberd

I have a YB and also a classic Mini, which my wife uses daily. Both cars have the same battery type - 038.

The one in the YB came with the car when I bought it last year. It works satisfactorily in the YB.

The Mini has a new calcium type, fitted about a month ago. So far, there have been no problems with charging by the ancient Lucas alternator in the car.

Mike
M Long

Thanks for the information Mike. Out of interest do you have any idea what the going rate for a YA is these days?
D A S Hibberd

<<Out of interest do you have any idea what the going rate for a YA is>>

Do you mean Amps or GBP? ;-)
Willem vd Veer

If you are referring to price, this really warrants a new thread, which I would expect to generate a lot of comment, based on recent posts regarding Y Types offered for sale.

Some cars have been advertised recently for very optimistic expectations by classic car dealers and suggest that the sky is the upper limit for the price of Y Types. There is a current thread about one for sale in Ireland for 25,000 Euros.

I spent almost a year searching for a good Y type. Although I was actually looking for one in good original condition, I eventually bought one about 85% restored with most of the necessary parts and materials to finish it.

I paid what I thought a fair price of £6000 last June. The valuation was based on professional advice at the time, and was consistent with the values published in the various specialist magazines.

I have now completed the restoration. IF I wanted to sell it I would hope to get around £9000, which I think is the going rate for a restored car in very good, but not concours condition.

It would be nice to think that it was worth nearer the prices sought recently by some dealers, but I live in the real world. Anything is only worth what someone else is prepared to pay for it.

I would add that it proved very difficult to find a good Y Type, taking me almost a year and several wasted trips across the country to look at cars that did not match their hopeful owners' descriptions. So perhaps good cars are worth more than the published valuations.

The fact is that I really wanted a Y Type as I owned a scruffy one in my youth and wanted to re-live the driving pleasure that it gave me. I have now got one and started to use it (in good weather) and thoroughly enjoying it.

I have no intention of selling it as long as I am able to drive. Therefore, the value of the car is academic and probably only of real interest to my two daughters after I have gone to the scrapyard in the sky.

Mike

M Long

There is a YA for sale for £7500, which seems contrary to the recent offerings at silly (high) prices - see Classic Cars for Sale - http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-page.php/carno/94160
M Long

This thread was discussed between 10/03/2010 and 05/05/2010

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