Ok, Didn't get to down load my camera to have photos, but I took the battery out of the 92 Listed in my sig. Its dead and wasn't the right size anyways.

Long story short, the tray that the batter sits on is very rusted out, holes and everything on the front portion of the tray. The sides are still in good shape and its solid in that respect. Is there anywhere I can get a new tray since it appears to only bolt in with three bolts and then a 4th if you include the support arm that attaches to the fender.

Otherwise the previous owner had a stainless plate on top of the tray to give it some more support. This seemed to be plenty strong, but it collects water between the plate and the tray, which i'm sure thats helped it along with rusting to pieces.

What to do?

Mike

 

first i use gel filled batteries gets rid of the rusting issue and corrosion . can you find a battery box off a gasser? i would just clean the daylights out of it paint it or better yet use some of that rust ender stuff and undercoating and put back the stainless plate and drive it.

 

Just an idea.

Use the old carrier as a pattern.

Weld up a four-sided rectangle of 1-1/2 x 3/16 angle-iron, making sure that a group 30/31 battery will easily set down inside the frame.

Use the old carrier as a reference for adding the necessary mounting points, or simply cut them off the old and weld to the new.

There is no advantage, whatsoever, for a battery carrier to have a solid sheet-metal floor; it is just a good place for rust to develop.

Many many years ago, I built one just like described for my old 1978 Chevy and it is still good as new, and way stouter than a new original, let alone one all rusted out.

Hanging under the flat of my 1985 Ford is one I built that houses two group 30/31 batteries.


If you will look at most big trucks, this is also how their carriers are made.

 

If you are going to fab up a new one, you can turn the battery sideways and put 2 in there.

 

I have seen two small ones sideways.

Has anyone been able to get two Group 30/31 in there ??

I intended to do this on the wife's truck; but, when I got to measuring/experimenting, in order to clear the radiator, the first battery had to move toward the fire-wall, thus pushing the second one into the way of something else. (I can't remember what, but I was discouraged from doing it)

 

Heres one for sale:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/92-Do...2535QQtcZphoto

 

So I go out today to see about taking the existing tray out to see what I want to do. Well Needless to say, its rusted/nasty to the point that I'm probally going to have to cut it up in order to get it out. Which this will leave me with not knowing whats what anymore. Guess I'll have to find a used one and put that in.....

Mike

 

Well I finally was able to get some photos loaded of the 92. Here's the photo of my battery tray I was talking about.

Based on this photo, does anyone here think that it won't make it through the winter. I've sanded it down, rust nutralized it and then black "rust tough" painted it. I could only get to the top since if I tried to take it out I know it would have been destroyed.

Mike

 

I've seen worse. Put a sheet of plywood over the tray to support/spread the weight of the battery(ies) untill you can fix it right.

 

It's a D350, they don't bounce around too bad. I'd run it.

 

At most Sams stores, right as you walk into the tire dept. you'll see a display of battery boxes. usually they are intended for boats or campers, but they can be used anywhere. Go get one for the group size battery you have and your done. Maybe a screw or two to hold it down. Wlamarts have them, Autozone's have them. Just about anyone who sells batteries have them.

 

Get one Optima red top and dont worry about having 2 they have more power than most singles and dont leak.

 

Is the positive battery bolt available any where? The one with the stud sticking out for the grid heaters.

Mike

 

Easy to make with a long bolt or a piece of all-thread.