I picked up a clean original 85 Tbird anniversary edition. Just curious if original style MotorCraft batteries can be found and how can I find out which style mine had new from Ford? Thank you for any info
Ray
I picked up a clean original 85 Tbird anniversary edition. Just curious if original style MotorCraft batteries can be found and how can I find out which style mine had new from Ford? Thank you for any info
Ray
Might be some useful info for you here. I have no idea if/where you could get an original appearing new battery.
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'89 XR-7 5 Speed
'95 SC 5 Speed
'91 Crown Vic P72 351W
'97 Thunderbird
'85 Ford LTD Squire
There are some original batteries out there but they command a decent price tag, starting at $100 to $1000. In reality, they are only needed for unrestored or thoroughbred judging. Even in unrestored judging you can get by without it. You will get dinged 6 points but that 6 points is easy to make up in bonus points. This is all based on MCA judging. For Tbirds and anything outside of MCA, I don't see a need or requirement. The judging just is not to that level. I can't speak for AACA as I have no idea and I doubt a Foxbody is there yet. In reality, it not required and not worth the money to have an original battery.
For 85, the Motorcraft case would be white with a black top. If you can get past that, its easy to make some labels. This will only fool some people as the newer cases are different.
If you do get an original, you have to deal with swapping out the battery at shows or modify it in order to place a smaller battery such as a Braille inside. Now you just doubled the price of your battery.
There were some reproduction batteries made for the first generation mustangs. In the past couple of years, quality has degraded quickly and production seems to stopping. There is not any interest from the battery manufacturers in making these batteries. The only hope is that someone may make an empty case to use with a Braille inside. That's still a long shot so don't expect anything for the Foxbody.
Fox Body/3rd Gen MCA Gold Card Judge
84 SVO 24K miles, 85 Mclaren Capri Vert. 84 GT Turbo Vert.
88 Mclaren Mustang Vert 20K miles, 89 Mustang LX Sport Vert,
03 Mach 1 7900 miles, 74 Mustang II, 69 Mustang, 67 Mustang, 07 GT500,
14 Mustang CS/GT, 15 F150 FTX Tuscany, 16 F250 Crewcab, 67 Tbird 47K miles
The Ford Parts book (1993) lists these for 85 tbird. This is not necessarily what came in the car from the factory.
BA-56 4/6 cyl
BA-56a 4 cyl
BR-62 4/6 cyl
BXT-64 4 cyl auto
BXT-65 8 cyl
Fox Body/3rd Gen MCA Gold Card Judge
84 SVO 24K miles, 85 Mclaren Capri Vert. 84 GT Turbo Vert.
88 Mclaren Mustang Vert 20K miles, 89 Mustang LX Sport Vert,
03 Mach 1 7900 miles, 74 Mustang II, 69 Mustang, 67 Mustang, 07 GT500,
14 Mustang CS/GT, 15 F150 FTX Tuscany, 16 F250 Crewcab, 67 Tbird 47K miles
Thanks for all the info. I will search around and see what I can find
I just ordered this at O’Reilleys. You can see what they have online but can’t order it. I went into the store and ordered it and had it in around 4 days. About $150 with a returned core.
Good to know. I knew they advertised them. I’m sure I will need one this year in one of the cars. My Ford dealer closed. Their service was so bad, the last battery was free.
I wonder if Oriellys honors the warranty?
I believe the mustang battery was recently replaced with another size. The Ford book says 82-89 as group 65, BX-63.
Looks like the group 65 is still available as a BXT-65650. Ford shows it being 7/8” longer which is probably not an issue.
Last edited by KevinK; 03-08-2021 at 02:47 PM.
Fox Body/3rd Gen MCA Gold Card Judge
84 SVO 24K miles, 85 Mclaren Capri Vert. 84 GT Turbo Vert.
88 Mclaren Mustang Vert 20K miles, 89 Mustang LX Sport Vert,
03 Mach 1 7900 miles, 74 Mustang II, 69 Mustang, 67 Mustang, 07 GT500,
14 Mustang CS/GT, 15 F150 FTX Tuscany, 16 F250 Crewcab, 67 Tbird 47K miles
I’m going to pick a bxt-56A up tommorrow for my 85 Gt.139.99 plus 18 core.great warranty with it..local Ford dealer had it in two days
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