29-792 = Batty Battery Boxes

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

Can someone with a Series 3 FFR please post up some photographs of the arrangement of the batteries that show how the battery holder is positioned? I have attached a photograph of how things appear now in Batty's side battery box.

Also could someone post up a photograph of the arrangement of the under seat battery - especially what type of clamp holds the battery down.

Are the plastic trays that the batteries sit on in the original civilian battery box still available? Or could something like a ute liner be applied to the base of the seat box and side battery box?

One of my other FFRs has cables left in it that shows that one of its former civilian owners had the only battery mounted in the passenger side side battery box and not under the passenger seat. Would this be legal? The benefit of the battery being in the side battery box is that it would allow me to mount a second fuel tank under the seat.

Thank you for your assistance.

Photos of Batty are posted up on the Series 3 & Stage 1 thread 

Kind Regards
Lionel

[aussiegregmac]

No problem using the the side mounts for your starting battery.  Plus by putting in an Isolator you could mount two batteries with one for accessories.  Just be careful mounting a second fuel tank under the left seat as you've got your exhaust system and muffler right there close.
Haven't got a Series3 FFR so someone will post a photo soon I'd say.
Greg

[Diana Alan]

Hi Lionel

You have the clamp correctly positioned.

Remember the holder is designed to carry various sized batteries.  You will notice there are about 3 notches in the track for the J bolts.  The deepest notch on the outside is so you can slide the retaining bracket almost completely out and lie it down flat so you can get the batteries in an out.

When using the 12" batteries you push the battery right in as far as it will go and then hold the bracket up to the top outer edge of the battery while sliding the J bolts to pick up smaller notches so the bolts are angles at aboyt 60 degrees then tighten the wing nuts to clamp the battery.

Sorry I can't show you mine as I have modified mine to have 3 batteries on the same side and I use the other side as extra storage.  Actually I use the original battery clamp to hold my toolbox in the RHS battery bay.

[Lionelgee]

Hello Diana & Greg,

Thank you for the replies. Also Diana thank you for the photograph. So the bracket fits over the outside edge and the j-bolts slope downwards at a diagonal - it makes much more sense now! Is there anything clamping down the inside edge - or in other words, the edge of the batteries closest to the chassis rail?

Or is the outside edge and the J-bolts sufficient to hold everything in place even when bouncing down a bush track?

Greg thank you for your concern, I will be putting back the original front mounted muffler and exhaust system so that should keep hot things away from the fuel tank. One of my FFRs was previously registered in Queensland before it was sold to the scrappies. It still has the original front mounted exhaust system so it is legal in Queensland. Batty currently has a civilian system in place and it will probably remain like that for a while yet - before I put the spare tank in.

Kind Regards
Lionel

[aussiegregmac]

That's cool.  Have fun finding a front mount engine pipe.
Greg

[Lionelgee]

Hello Greg,

I have a complete system on my very first ever Land Rover purchase - Morse, whom was saved from the Scrappies in Bundaberg.

Cross fingers that it is still in relatively good condition.

Do I have any radios, aerials, aerial mounts, canvas soft top, blackout lights, 24 voltage alternator, front tool box that goes just behind the seats, cargo area jumpseats, radio operator lights and fume sheet - God only knows what else associated with radios - hmmmm no. I do have some soft top hoops 

Kind Regards
Lionel

[aussiegregmac]

You'll be fine then   ha ha
Greg

[Lionelgee]

You'll be fine then   ha ha
Greg

G'day Greg,

How possible and expensive would going down the road of trying to kit-out a Series 3 FFR. I realise if I want to go to full functionality it also means getting a Ham licence too?

What was the main brand and type of radio fitted to the Series 3 FFRs between 1978 and 1980?

Also how many radios were fitted to something like an artillery based FFR did they have the same amount or less radios than other FFRs associated with different types of Army usage?

Morse has obvious traces of three aerial mounts on the sides of the cargo area. I can only see two mounting points on Batty.

Kind Regards
Lionel

[aussiegregmac]

Certainly possible BUT expensive.  Everything about radio costs money.  Groan, says my old lady.

You can own every radio in the world but you only need a Ham Licence when and if you TRANSMIT.
That's not to say you can't know your gear actually works.  ha.

In that period was basically all American.  Most all in the range was part of the VRC12 system.
Plenty info on Mr Floogle.  Look for  AN/PRC77,  GRC/160,  RT524,  AM2060 Amplifier,

RAA (Arty) RAAC and RASIGS.  Anything up to four or more even.

Two mounting holes ??  Don't drill any more till you get the gear.

Start trolling ebay (Europe, Italy, Israel and the USA)  USA won't export a lot.
Do some research to get up to speed on what's needed.  Start small (even just one set)
Send me a PM for further questions when you think of them. 
Work on getting the vehicle fully kitted then start on the radio gear.
I did it back to front.  See ya,
Greg Mac.

[Lionelgee]

Hello Greg,

Thank you for the information about what radios to look out for.

I will be getting a vehicle on the road first before putting specialised equipment inside it. You know be able to turn a key, engage the clutch select a gear and then move forward under the vehicle's own power. Instead of sitting on the seat making vroom - vroom noises and turning the steering wheel.

Still it is good to know where to maybe, sort of start looking  - you know just to do some research to find out about prices and availability and stuff. 

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Diana Alan]

Hi Lionel

Sorry for not getting back to your post.  The batteries are well held down, they press up against the inside of the seat box and get held down to the base plate.

I believe that my FFR was used by an engineer unit, only because one of the tac sign holders was painted completely blue.  What is interesting is that it had holes for the HF antenna mounts as well as the regular holes for the MX-6707 ATU mount.

Diana