Adding Auxiliary Battery Box - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

69TowRig · 12-13-2006, 01:30 AM

First off, I searched, did not find what I am looking for.

I bought an auxiliary battery box a while back and want to install it.

It looks like the bottom two mounting holes are the same as the ones in the radiator core support that the horn bracket and a wire loom clip go into. Looks like I have to drill the support for the top two? Is this correct? I figured that all the holes/weld-nuts would have already been there but I guess not.

Also, I did find the diagram for the relay and wiring circuit, but where can you find that beast easily? If it is some odd-ball part I will just use a modern equivalent. How about those extra junction blocks? Anyone know where to get OEM style ones?

Thanks y'all.

72armyswbtruck · 12-13-2006, 02:24 AM

I want to know this too......

Bob Moore · 12-13-2006, 02:51 PM

Yes - you have to drill several hole to mount the aux. battery box. Use the horn as the index. The tray will be about 1/2inch higher than the normal tray. No big deal.

Not original but I used a later model (mid 70's, early 80"s) dual battery relay from GM. Not a diesel part but a camper wiring relay. They make an isolater for dual battery setups as well.

The OEM style junction blocks are available from many board vendors - your choice.

69TowRig · 12-13-2006, 07:48 PM

Cool, that's what I figured about the mounting. Thanks.

I looked for those J-blocks. I had never seen them listed. LMC, GMC Paul's, and Classic Heartbeat don't have them. Finally found them at Classic Parts.

Longhorn Man · 12-13-2006, 11:48 PM

do you need the battery to run seperatly? If you hook up the relay deal, that battery will only be turned on when the truck is turned off... really only usefull if you are camping or listening to the stereo all night with the key turned off.

69TowRig · 12-14-2006, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

do you need the battery to run seperatly? If you hook up the relay deal, that battery will only be turned on when the truck is turned off... really only usefull if you are camping or listening to the stereo all night with the key turned off.

From the wiring diagram I saw on another thread here it looked like the Aux battery was only connected when the ignition was turned on, which would be the opposite of what you are saying.

I might just use a battery isolator since I have a spare sitting around and use the battery for other loads, or as a backup for "self jumpstarting" or something silly like that.

Longhorn Man · 12-14-2006, 01:45 AM

I have mine woth 2 batteries, wired paralel to each other, twice the cranking amps.

longhorn72 · 12-14-2006, 03:15 AM

Painless makes a dual battery setup that gives you your choice of settings. It's a nice setup of course this is not factory but I just thought I would throw it out there. Good luck.

Longhorn Man · 12-14-2006, 11:26 AM

what do they charge for it...200 bucks? a relay, an 10 ft of 12 guage, and an extra battery cable.. did I leave out anything?

396muncie · 12-14-2006, 12:03 PM

I have a factory setup that I can take pics of if you need anything. There are, however, no battery cables on the auxiliary side. Did these come factory with the cables and all wiring or was it up to the buyer to get that? Thanks

Longhorn Man · 12-14-2006, 12:52 PM

no cables. The stock set up is only supposed to run things like lights and a radio and stuff in the camper. It gets charged when the engine runs, but is not a part of the vehicle's electrical system... totally seperate

396muncie · 12-15-2006, 08:41 AM

Great to finally know. Thanks a lot!!

12-13-2006, 01:30 AM	#1
69TowRig Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 894	Adding Auxiliary Battery Box First off, I searched, did not find what I am looking for. I bought an auxiliary battery box a while back and want to install it. It looks like the bottom two mounting holes are the same as the ones in the radiator core support that the horn bracket and a wire loom clip go into. Looks like I have to drill the support for the top two? Is this correct? I figured that all the holes/weld-nuts would have already been there but I guess not. Also, I did find the diagram for the relay and wiring circuit, but where can you find that beast easily? If it is some odd-ball part I will just use a modern equivalent. How about those extra junction blocks? Anyone know where to get OEM style ones? Thanks y'all. __________________ -Chris Building a stripper, one part at a time: 1969 K5, 307, 3spd, 3 seats, hard top. Added Pwr Discs, Pwr Steering, Aux Battery, T-case Skid, Lighted Sidemarkers, HEI, Lock-Right Diff, ECE Class IV Hitch, 32" MT/Rs. Parts to Install: Hand Throttle, Console, Tow Hooks, Dual Horns, AM-FM, Dealer Swing-Away Tire Carrier, Gas Tank Skid. Also building a 1950 Willys CJ-3A and off-roading a 2001 Nissan Frontier on 1-Ton Portals...

12-13-2006, 02:24 AM	#2
72armyswbtruck Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Idaho Posts: 4,034	Re: Adding Auxiliary Battery Box I want to know this too...... __________________ "Remember, They can Kill You, but they can't eat You, That's against the law!!!!!!!!!"

12-13-2006, 02:51 PM	#3
Bob Moore Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Tacoma WA Posts: 1,365	Re: Adding Auxiliary Battery Box Yes - you have to drill several hole to mount the aux. battery box. Use the horn as the index. The tray will be about 1/2inch higher than the normal tray. No big deal. Not original but I used a later model (mid 70's, early 80"s) dual battery relay from GM. Not a diesel part but a camper wiring relay. They make an isolater for dual battery setups as well. The OEM style junction blocks are available from many board vendors - your choice. __________________ 67 C-20 LWB, tilt, speed alert, vac, 454, T400 67 C-10 SWB, factory air with more to follow Last edited by Bob Moore; 12-13-2006 at 02:53 PM.

12-13-2006, 07:48 PM	#4
69TowRig Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 894	Re: Adding Auxiliary Battery Box Cool, that's what I figured about the mounting. Thanks. I looked for those J-blocks. I had never seen them listed. LMC, GMC Paul's, and Classic Heartbeat don't have them. Finally found them at Classic Parts. __________________ -Chris Building a stripper, one part at a time: 1969 K5, 307, 3spd, 3 seats, hard top. Added Pwr Discs, Pwr Steering, Aux Battery, T-case Skid, Lighted Sidemarkers, HEI, Lock-Right Diff, ECE Class IV Hitch, 32" MT/Rs. Parts to Install: Hand Throttle, Console, Tow Hooks, Dual Horns, AM-FM, Dealer Swing-Away Tire Carrier, Gas Tank Skid. Also building a 1950 Willys CJ-3A and off-roading a 2001 Nissan Frontier on 1-Ton Portals...

12-13-2006, 11:48 PM	#5
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Adding Auxiliary Battery Box do you need the battery to run seperatly? If you hook up the relay deal, that battery will only be turned on when the truck is turned off... really only usefull if you are camping or listening to the stereo all night with the key turned off.

12-14-2006, 01:45 AM	#7
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Adding Auxiliary Battery Box I have mine woth 2 batteries, wired paralel to each other, twice the cranking amps.

12-14-2006, 03:15 AM	#8
longhorn72 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: My buisness Posts: 9	Re: Adding Auxiliary Battery Box Painless makes a dual battery setup that gives you your choice of settings. It's a nice setup of course this is not factory but I just thought I would throw it out there. Good luck.

12-14-2006, 11:26 AM	#9
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Adding Auxiliary Battery Box what do they charge for it...200 bucks? a relay, an 10 ft of 12 guage, and an extra battery cable.. did I leave out anything?

12-14-2006, 12:03 PM	#10
396muncie Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lancaster, PA Posts: 271	Re: Adding Auxiliary Battery Box I have a factory setup that I can take pics of if you need anything. There are, however, no battery cables on the auxiliary side. Did these come factory with the cables and all wiring or was it up to the buyer to get that? Thanks __________________ 70 Custom/10, 396, Muncie 4spd, SWB SOLD 72 Cheyenne K20, 350, Granny 4spd, LWB, daily driver 72 Cheyenne Super C20, 350, Turbo 400, LWB, parts truck for 4WD Cheyenne

12-14-2006, 12:52 PM	#11
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Adding Auxiliary Battery Box no cables. The stock set up is only supposed to run things like lights and a radio and stuff in the camper. It gets charged when the engine runs, but is not a part of the vehicle's electrical system... totally seperate

12-15-2006, 08:41 AM	#12
396muncie Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lancaster, PA Posts: 271	Re: Adding Auxiliary Battery Box Great to finally know. Thanks a lot!! __________________ 70 Custom/10, 396, Muncie 4spd, SWB SOLD 72 Cheyenne K20, 350, Granny 4spd, LWB, daily driver 72 Cheyenne Super C20, 350, Turbo 400, LWB, parts truck for 4WD Cheyenne

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.