Photos of a new Optima battery and battery box.

[Joshpow]

Thanks for the info. I'll check that out.

[robroy]

I'd like to see pics of the harness modification for the 1 wire alternator hookup.

Good evening MrSnicks!

I apologize for taking this long to get back to you with the photo! Click directly over it for a larger, high resolution view (with more periphery included).



You can see the yellow arrow pointing to what remains of the updated harness! All it does now is deliver electricity to the cab.

As you know, previous to this modification the harness did these things:

1. Delivered juice to the cab.
2. Delivered the alternator's output to the battery.
3. Carried both the From and To signals from the ammeter to the external voltage regulator.

The black/yellow wire that delivers juice to the cab remains intact. The alternator output wire was replaced with a stand-alone, 4GA charge wire that goes directly to the battery's positive post. The ammeter's "From" and "To" signal wires were simply snipped off and insulated (you can see the small red and yellow wires that were snipped from the harness in my photo).

I can provide rationale supporting the validity of this modification if you're interested, although I'll have to dig out the schematic I studied and retrace my thinking. If you're seriously interested, I'll do this and post an image of the schematic here with the best explanation I'm capable of!

For now, suffice it to say that I turned the harness previously used for a truck with "gauges" in to basically the same thing as the harness used for trucks with "lights."

Since I removed 90% of the harness, I would have simply made a fresh one from all new parts, but I didn't know how to get my hands on the connector with three bullet conductors that plugs to the firewall! And even if I could get my hands on that, it's not clear to me how new wires could be inserted in it; it looks like it was completely molded around the wires at the factory.

MrSnicks, thanks for your patience!
Robroy

[robroy]

Thanks for the info. I'll check that out.

Hey you're welcome Josh!

Did you manage to check that out? I just looked at the site again and found this product:



It's their "3G Upgrade Kit (Retains Stock Wiring) #462802C."

http://www.pa-performance.com/Scripts/p ... product=75

Looks like it's $27. Not bad for such a low-production part huh?

Robroy

[Fordnatic]

Robroy,

Don't worry a bit about your K&N. In deseart storm, the helicopter turbine engine blades were getting eroded by the sand. The only filter found that would flow enough air (turbines suck A LOT) yet keep the fine sand out of the engines was K&N. I don't know where the idea that K&N's don't filter air well got started. I've had them on everything I've ever owned. They say to clean them each 50000 miles or so. They actually filter better with a layer of fine dirt on them, and flow much better than paper with gross amounts of dirt on them. They outflow a new paper element even when soaking wet-if you've ever soaked a paper filter bucking snow you will know that it will stop flow enough to kill the engine. The best test was on a dirt bike of mine when I replaced the stock oiled foam element with a K&N. It flowed so much air I had to drill the jets in the carb a few sizes to keep it from leaning out! I rode that bike in the sand dunes so many times and there was never any sand in the dual carbs and they are sensitive. The air filter as on most dirt bikes is under the seat, and the tire literally covers it with sand/mud/dirt. K&N's rock!

[1971ford]

By far the bestest ever
I know dan personally and i run a few of his parts including the Optima hold down and the optima itself is through him as well. He is a great dude and does amazing work. His shop is about 25minutes from my house.
http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/cat ... p-280.html

[GSequoia]

Here's some photos of the box Ryan mentioned: http://www.boyandjeep.com/2010/07/06/gi ... -an-optima

Teaser:

It really holds the battery in well! I have one welded into my truck and one welded into my Jeep, those batteries do not move.

Sequoia (A bit late to the game on this post)