Willard Battery Topper to fit a Deka/NAPA battery

1941 - 1945, MB, GPW modifications, sugestions, and ideas, official MWO's and unofficial WWII field mods NO EBAY or COMMERCIAL SALES.
Post Reply
Rustman
G-Lieutenant Colonel
G-Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 1098
Joined: Sun Jun 20, 2010 5:04 am
Location: Charles Town, WV
Contact:

Willard Battery Topper to fit a Deka/NAPA battery

Post by Rustman » Sat Jul 03, 2021 3:20 am

This has been in development for months. Working from an original Willard SW-2-116 battery, a 1944 Willard catalog, a 1943 Association of American Battery Manufacturers service manual, original and archival photographs of installed batteries, support from fellow G503r Bryanbdp who is also a CAD draftsman as well as design help and advice from several other Jeep owners and restorers we present the “Battery Topper”.
This is our pre-production prototype. We are still doing the final design of the cell connectors and sorting some production details. There will be another announcement when these are available for sale.
“Battery Topper” is designed as a drop on cover for the NAPA/Deka Group 2 Commercial batteries. This cover requires no modifications to the battery and can be installed in minutes. The caps are simply glued to the stock battery vent caps. In the event you need to replace your battery, even while on the road you can simply switch the caps, move the cover over and return the old battery for your core fee without losing the “Battery Topper”.

Here it is on the bench fitted to some RFJP battery tray, hold down and J hooks:
A59942F4-D0E5-46A6-AD24-250C64ADCA93_1_201_a.jpeg
Here it is installed in Mat Curtis' MB.
50A9ECEB-8F3F-4DEF-8FB7-89ACE266160C_1_201_a.jpeg
1970 Kaiser Jeep DJ-5A Left Hand Drive
1945 Corps of Engineers Welder & Trailer
1943 G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Steel Body
194* G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Composite Body
http://g518parts.com/


jimmy fixer
G-Private
G-Private
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Feb 24, 2021 2:28 am
Location: England

Re: Willard Battery Topper to fit a Deka/NAPA battery

Post by jimmy fixer » Sat Aug 21, 2021 11:50 pm

Hey great work I was trying to do something similar here in the Uk a couple of years ago for my personal use/ but could not get the top thin enough to get the terminals to fit nice. I was just going for a generic old style battery. my business is auto repair and I can get modern 5 year warranty batteries for about $110 as opposed to an original style 1 year warranty battery for $200. can you update me when you are in production or let me know who will be retailing the product regards simon smith.

Rustman
G-Lieutenant Colonel
G-Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 1098
Joined: Sun Jun 20, 2010 5:04 am
Location: Charles Town, WV
Contact:

Re: Willard Battery Topper to fit a Deka/NAPA battery

Post by Rustman » Mon Aug 23, 2021 12:19 pm

jimmy fixer wrote:
Sat Aug 21, 2021 11:50 pm
Hey great work I was trying to do something similar here in the Uk a couple of years ago for my personal use/ but could not get the top thin enough to get the terminals to fit nice. I was just going for a generic old style battery. my business is auto repair and I can get modern 5 year warranty batteries for about $110 as opposed to an original style 1 year warranty battery for $200. can you update me when you are in production or let me know who will be retailing the product regards simon smith.
I'll send you a message.

Matthew
1970 Kaiser Jeep DJ-5A Left Hand Drive
1945 Corps of Engineers Welder & Trailer
1943 G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Steel Body
194* G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Composite Body
http://g518parts.com/

Gunny
G-Sergeant Major
G-Sergeant Major
Posts: 160
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2005 1:55 pm
Location: San Diego

Re: Willard Battery Topper to fit a Deka/NAPA battery

Post by Gunny » Tue Aug 24, 2021 2:10 pm

Is this a 12 volt battery? If so, what's the model number?
The Gunny
One of the Few

1943 Ford GPW

Rustman
G-Lieutenant Colonel
G-Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 1098
Joined: Sun Jun 20, 2010 5:04 am
Location: Charles Town, WV
Contact:

Re: Willard Battery Topper to fit a Deka/NAPA battery

Post by Rustman » Tue Aug 24, 2021 5:21 pm

Sorry no. Group 2 Batteries are 6 volt. Here's a handy reference site for battery group sizes. It's an industry standard thing. the WW2 Jeeps and Dodges used a Group 2, the G506 series a Group 4 or 4EH as did the M29C.

https://www.batteryequivalents.com/bci- ... chart.html

You'll note that even right up to modern batteries that 3 cells are 6 volt and 6 cells are 12 volt. I guess there is only so much juice you can squeeze from a single cell of a battery.

Matthew
1970 Kaiser Jeep DJ-5A Left Hand Drive
1945 Corps of Engineers Welder & Trailer
1943 G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Steel Body
194* G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Composite Body
http://g518parts.com/

Gunny
G-Sergeant Major
G-Sergeant Major
Posts: 160
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2005 1:55 pm
Location: San Diego

Re: Willard Battery Topper to fit a Deka/NAPA battery

Post by Gunny » Wed Aug 25, 2021 6:53 am

Is this a 12 volt battery? If so, what's the model number?
The Gunny
One of the Few

1943 Ford GPW

DWesol
SGT/USMC
SGT/USMC
Posts: 473
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 8:22 pm
Location: Milwaukee, WI

Re: Willard Battery Topper to fit a Deka/NAPA battery

Post by DWesol » Thu Jan 27, 2022 6:05 pm

Rustman,
Any updates on this ? I would like to purchase one.
Dan
1942 GPW 55791 DOD 8-12-42 USA # 20144366 (Original)
1943 Bantam T 3 21392 DOD 6-21-43 USA # 0270225 (Original)
Midwest Military Vehicle Association - www.MMVA.us
MVPA 28115
www.MVPA.org/Oshkosh

Rustman
G-Lieutenant Colonel
G-Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 1098
Joined: Sun Jun 20, 2010 5:04 am
Location: Charles Town, WV
Contact:

Re: Willard Battery Topper to fit a Deka/NAPA battery

Post by Rustman » Sat Jan 29, 2022 2:12 am

Check the website in my signature. The Battery Tops are in production.

Matt
1970 Kaiser Jeep DJ-5A Left Hand Drive
1945 Corps of Engineers Welder & Trailer
1943 G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Steel Body
194* G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Composite Body
http://g518parts.com/

DWesol
SGT/USMC
SGT/USMC
Posts: 473
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 8:22 pm
Location: Milwaukee, WI

Re: Willard Battery Topper to fit a Deka/NAPA battery

Post by DWesol » Sun Jan 30, 2022 11:27 am

Thanks Matt,
I just placed an order
Dan
1942 GPW 55791 DOD 8-12-42 USA # 20144366 (Original)
1943 Bantam T 3 21392 DOD 6-21-43 USA # 0270225 (Original)
Midwest Military Vehicle Association - www.MMVA.us
MVPA 28115
www.MVPA.org/Oshkosh

Rustman
G-Lieutenant Colonel
G-Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 1098
Joined: Sun Jun 20, 2010 5:04 am
Location: Charles Town, WV
Contact:

Re: Willard Battery Topper to fit a Deka/NAPA battery

Post by Rustman » Thu Feb 03, 2022 2:19 am

Dan,

Got it and shipped! Hope you enjoy it.

Matt
1970 Kaiser Jeep DJ-5A Left Hand Drive
1945 Corps of Engineers Welder & Trailer
1943 G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Steel Body
194* G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Composite Body
http://g518parts.com/

DWesol
SGT/USMC
SGT/USMC
Posts: 473
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 8:22 pm
Location: Milwaukee, WI

Re: Willard Battery Topper to fit a Deka/NAPA battery

Post by DWesol » Mon Feb 07, 2022 7:06 am

Matt,
It arrived safely. Carefully and professionally packaged. Clear installation instructions. Can't wait to install it. As soon as the weather warms up around here!
Thank you,
Dan
1942 GPW 55791 DOD 8-12-42 USA # 20144366 (Original)
1943 Bantam T 3 21392 DOD 6-21-43 USA # 0270225 (Original)
Midwest Military Vehicle Association - www.MMVA.us
MVPA 28115
www.MVPA.org/Oshkosh

Rustman
G-Lieutenant Colonel
G-Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 1098
Joined: Sun Jun 20, 2010 5:04 am
Location: Charles Town, WV
Contact:

Re: Willard Battery Topper to fit a Deka/NAPA battery

Post by Rustman » Wed Mar 02, 2022 3:52 am

Changing our process up a little. Here's one of the new Tops.
IMG_9021.jpeg
Matt
1970 Kaiser Jeep DJ-5A Left Hand Drive
1945 Corps of Engineers Welder & Trailer
1943 G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Steel Body
194* G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Composite Body
http://g518parts.com/

Rustman
G-Lieutenant Colonel
G-Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 1098
Joined: Sun Jun 20, 2010 5:04 am
Location: Charles Town, WV
Contact:

Re: Willard Battery Topper to fit a Deka/NAPA battery

Post by Rustman » Thu May 12, 2022 6:31 pm

Changed up the process again.
IMG_9616.jpeg
I still need to update the photos and information on the website, but any orders from here forward will be the new one.

Matthew
1970 Kaiser Jeep DJ-5A Left Hand Drive
1945 Corps of Engineers Welder & Trailer
1943 G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Steel Body
194* G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Composite Body
http://g518parts.com/


Post Reply

Return to “MB GPW Modifications”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 39 guests