DirtyComanche Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 Has anyone swapped to the larger group 34 battery? Apparently they are the factory size battery in 98+? XJs, and there is some straggler posts on the internet about trimming the earlier tray a bit and installing it. It fits in my tray okay, but the posts are switched vs the stock sized battery. So I can either run it with the posts forward, which means the negative looks like it is very close to the hood latch release, or I can run it with the posts back, which puts the positive very close to the internal structure in the hood. There is already a hole burned in the hood where the positive post would be, I'm guessing from somebody doing something similar before...? So I don't think that's a good idea. Anyone know what it looked like from the factory? Is the factory tray much different? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted November 2, 2016 Author Share Posted November 2, 2016 Looking at random interweb pictures leads me to believe that the later tray probably moves the battery towards the engine a bit, thus getting a little extra room for the posts. That said, I'm not sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strokermjcomanche Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 A group 34 battery has the posts in the same location as the standard battery , you must have been looking at a group 34r battery . I don't see why a 34 group battery wouldn't fit in the stock battery tray . I have one in my Xj that I can put in my 89 mj tommorow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schardein Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 The 1996 and newer battery trays incorporate a battery temp sensor and are slightly narrower than 1995 and earlier trays. 1987-1995 7.5" x 10.5" 1996-2001 7.5" x 9.5" They are interchangeable, same bolt pattern. The change in length is on the "engine" side of the tray, so the later tray allows a little more room to reach the alternator, for example. All this is based on personal experience and is for 4.0. I have no idea if 2.5 motors used the same trays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted November 2, 2016 Author Share Posted November 2, 2016 Sorry, I always assume everyone uses the 4.0L and forget the 2.5L exists. I should have specified it is a 4.0L application. Strokermjcomanche wins the cookie, this is a 34R battery. Conveniently the label does not indicate this, but comparing it to the 'exact' same battery in my JK and the posts are backwards. This is extremely annoying as I was hoping to use this battery since I already had it (came with a truck I bought), and it is the same the one in my JK and XJ (XJ has a totally different tray/battery location and stretched fenders, so I could not use it to compare to the MJ) other than the posts are reversed and it isn't going to fit any of the vehicles I own. Yay! I guess I better go buy another battery with my Cambodian Tire money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 Group 34 (Non-R) battery. Fits fine on the stock battery tray and delivers 25% more CCA (760 vs. 1000) than the stock group 58 battery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crash Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 I use a 34/78. Which is dual terminal. Useful for addon accessibility. Group 34 (Non-R) battery. Fits fine on the stock battery tray and delivers 25% more CCA (760 vs. 1000) than the stock group 58 battery. It's actually 800 cca and 1000 ca. You can even see that in your pic FYI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 Old Group 58 battery: 760 CCA New Group 34 battery: 1000 CCA The 34 cost less too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted November 3, 2016 Author Share Posted November 3, 2016 I'll pick up the right battery next time I go into town. I might look for the HO hold downs the next time I hit the wrecker, the Renix ones aren't long enough. Modding them isn't hard, but why waste the time when the rest of the truck isn't together anyways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schardein Posted November 3, 2016 Share Posted November 3, 2016 I'll pick up the right battery next time I go into town. I might look for the HO hold downs the next time I hit the wrecker, the Renix ones aren't long enough. Modding them isn't hard, but why waste the time when the rest of the truck isn't together anyways. All the hold down bolts I've looked at have been the same length, 1987-2001. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted November 4, 2016 Author Share Posted November 4, 2016 I'll pick up the right battery next time I go into town. I might look for the HO hold downs the next time I hit the wrecker, the Renix ones aren't long enough. Modding them isn't hard, but why waste the time when the rest of the truck isn't together anyways. All the hold down bolts I've looked at have been the same length, 1987-2001. Odd. I'm not sure what's up then. Now that you mention it, I'm rather certain I used a stock hold down for the group 34 in my XJ and it was plenty long. I'm guessing I've got more random parts. I'll have to look in the shed and see what I have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted November 4, 2016 Author Share Posted November 4, 2016 Soooo, to finish this off. A group 34 is a direct bolt in. Your hold down will fit fine, the cables reach, etc, etc. Good upgrade if your battery dies since they're more common than the 58 anyways. The '34R' battery I had isn't even the same size as a normal 34, so I have no idea what it is, it actually looks like it has the wrong label on it. :rotf: I bought a new 34 today and it bolted in with zero issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strokermjcomanche Posted November 4, 2016 Share Posted November 4, 2016 So what you're saying is this^^ was all for not? lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted November 4, 2016 Author Share Posted November 4, 2016 So what you're saying is this^^ was all for not? lol Pretty much. But now if anyone searches for a group 34 swap they should find this thread and conclude that as long as you actually have a group 34 battery that it will bolt in. I'm still confused about the other battery I have. Whatever, it will probably fit in the plow truck when the battery in it gets toasted or frozen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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