64-Severe battery drain

[Steve D.]

Question for a friend 64_327_Coupe

New battery in 64 restore effort where engine has been recently installed, cranked and run for 30 minutes for cam break-in. He forgot to open the battery switch, and in about 4 days time the battery drained to a point where it would not take a charge. Assuming that the battery was not defective, what circumstance would cause such a severe drain? No acessories (radio, clock, lights) hooked up yet. I checked the archives and know that their are lots of posibilities, but does the severity of the drain limit the suspects?

Steve

[Scott Butville]

Re: 64-Severe battery drain

Do you know that it as charging while the engine was running?

[Jim T.]

Re: 64-Severe battery drain

I once drove my 70 for hours without the alternator charging. Only the ignition system was used. Good thing that it was a long day of sunshine.

[Mike S.]

Re: 64-Severe battery drain

To find drian.turn everthing off .switch off, radio off, doors closed. disconnect the neg. battery cable .connect a test light between the the battery neg. post and the neg. cable.if the light burns bright you have a drain . To find the drain disconnect the alt. first,then voltage reg.if light goes out or dims you have found drain.if still on pull fuses one at a time untill light goes out or dims .drain will be on that fuse circuit.also check horn relay.