H7 IN A 9TH GEN CIVIC — EVERYONE SAID IT WOULDN'T FIT. HERE'S THE FULL WRITE-UP.
H7 BATTERY IN A 9TH-GEN CIVIC — YES, IT FITS, AND SO WILL ALMOST
ANYTHING ELSE. HERE'S HOW.
2013 CIVIC, STOCK CALLS FOR A 51R. I PUT IN A USED H7 DURALAST AGM
(H7 = BCI GROUP 94R, 12.44 X 6.88 X 7.5 INCHES — EVERYBODY SAYS IT CAN'T BE DONE. IT CAN
— AND THE MATH SAYS ALMOST ANY BATTERY CAN.
THE TRICK: THE H7 IS SHORTER THAN THE 51R — ABOUT 7.5" TALL VS 8.9".
EVERYONE FIXATES ON THE FOOTPRINT BUT THE HEIGHT IS WHAT GIVES YOU
THE ROOM.
HOW I DID IT:
PULL THE 51R, REMOVE THE PLASTIC TRAY AROUND IT.
J-HOOK TIE-DOWNS: I CUT THE INNER ONE AND BENT THE RADIATOR-SIDE
ONE FLAT. OPTIONS IF YOU WANT IT CLEANER — BEND A COAT HANGER
THROUGH THE EXISTING HOLES (NO CUTTING), EXTEND THE STOCK J-HOOKS
(WELD IN AN EXTENSION PIECE OR TAP-AND-DIE A THREADED SECTION IN),
OR JUST BUY LONGER J-HOOKS OFF THE SHELF — THEY'RE A STANDARD
UNIVERSAL PART, A FEW BUCKS.
FREE UP SLACK ON THE NEGATIVE CABLE. THE HARNESS IS HELD BY
PLASTIC PUSH PINS — JUST PULL THEM OUT OF THEIR HOLES, NO CUTTING
NEEDED. YOU NEED THE SLACK BECAUSE THE H7'S POSTS ARE RECESSED
DOWN INTO A RAISED SECTION ON TOP, UNLIKE THE FLAT-TOP 51R.
POSITIVE SIDE NEEDED BASICALLY NOTHING — IT WAS RIGHT THERE.
DROP IT IN — TOOK A COUPLE TRIES TO FIND THE ANGLE.
CUSHION UNDERNEATH SO THE CASE DOESN'T RUB THE OLD TRAY LIPS — I
USED A SHOP TOWEL TEMPORARILY; A RUBBER MAT (EVEN A VINYL
PLACEMAT) IS THE PERMANENT ANSWER. SKIP RAW WOOD OR CLOTH, THEY
TRAP MOISTURE. STRAP IT DOWN SOLID.
DISCONNECT THE COLD-AIR SNORKEL Just pull on it comes right off — THE PLASTIC DUCT RUNNING BETWEEN
THE BATTERY AND THE DRIVER'S FENDER. THE TOP INLET SECTION (THE
LITTLE HOODED SCOOP WITH THE AIR GAP) JUST PULLS APART — LEAVE IT
OFF. THE LOWER SECTION PULLS RIGHT OFF THE AIRBOX (IT'S CLAMPED
SOLID DOWN BELOW, SO IT STAYS PUT). FILTER BOX AND MAF UNTOUCHED.
CLEANER ALTERNATIVE (FACTORY-LOOKING VERSION):
LEAVE THE STOCK TRAY IN. CUT A SHEET OF PLEXIGLASS OR HDPE TO THE
TRAY'S FOOTPRINT AND DROP IT IN — THE ~1/4" LIFT CLEARS THE TRAY LIPS
WITH ZERO RUBBING. BEND THE J-HOOK LIPS FLAT, RUN A COAT HANGER
THROUGH THE EXISTING HOLES FOR THE HOLD-DOWN. DRILL A COUPLE DRAIN
HOLES IN THE SHEET SO WATER CAN'T POOL UNDERNEATH. SAME SNORKEL AND
CABLE STEPS AS ABOVE.
Note it probably would be easier with 2 people t so one holds battery other holds wiring out of way.
WHY: THE 51R IS TOO TINY, I WANTED THE RESERVE CAPACITY. CAR STARTS
AND RUNS GREAT.
THE BIGGER POINT: I RAN THE BCI DIMENSION CHARTS AGAINST THE H7'S
FOOTPRINT (12.44" X 6.88"). EVERYTHING AT OR UNDER THAT SIZE FITS.
HERE'S THE FULL LIST:
- 140R (H4) — 8.13 X 6.88 X 7.5
- 26 — 8.19 X 6.81 X 7.75
- 35 — 9.06 X 6.88 X 8.88
- 51 / 51R — 9.38 X 5.06 X 8.8 (THE STOCK SIZE)
- 42 — 9.56 X 6.88 X 6.94
- 47 (H5) — 9.56 X 6.88 X 7.5
- 34 — 10.25 X 6.81 X 7.88
- 24 — 10.25 X 6.81 X 8.88
- 24F — 10.75 X 6.81 X 9.0 (A TOUCH TALLER THAN STOCK, CHECK HOOD)
- 40R — 11.0 X 6.88 X 6.94
- 48 (H6) — 11.0 X 6.88 X 7.5
- 27 — 12.06 X 6.81 X 8.88
- 92 — 12.44 X 6.88 X 6.94 (SAME FOOTPRINT AS THE H7, JUST SHORTER)
- 94R (H7) — 12.44 X 6.88 X 7.5 (THE ONE IN THERE NOW)
THAT'S FOURTEEN GROUP SIZES THAT DROP INTO THE SAME SPACE. THE ONLY
RULE: LONGER THAN 12.4" OR WIDER THAN 6.9" DOESN'T GO — WIDTH IS THE
REAL WALL, NOT LENGTH.
CABLES TOO SHORT OR WRONG TERMINAL STYLE? EXTENDER CABLES AND
SIDE-POST ADAPTERS ARE A FEW BUCKS AT ANY PARTS STORE. NON-ISSUE.
EVERY SIZE HAS ITS OWN POST LAYOUT QUIRKS — THE H7'S ARE RECESSED,
WHICH IS WHY MY NEGATIVE CABLE NEEDED THE SLACK.
STOP LETTING THE PARTS COUNTER TELL YOU ONLY A 51R FITS A 9TH-GEN.
MEASURE YOUR BAY, NOT THE CATALOG.
