Figured I’d post the battery tray solution I fabbed here, since Fall Crawl found the weak point.
The base adjusts long ways to “grab” a battery from the bottom and should accommodate any length between 13.25” and 5.5” and as wide as 7.25”. The cross bar has width adjusters on the top to grab the top sides of the battery, and everything clamps in place. The bars run about as close to the hood as I dare - should accommodate at least a 9.5” tall battery.
In short - if I ever have to find a battery at a random Walmart ever again, this thing should hold it.
If all those clamps break loose, there’s a “fence” that will serve as the last line of defense between the battery and the exhaust.
This whole tray mounts to this bracket:
Which in turn mounts to the frame at 4 existing bolt holes, and the fender in one existing bolt hole. The last point of attachment is from the tray, to the old coil bracket on the fender. The “legs” had to snake around the radiator support and hug the fender. This keeps the bracket as out of the way as possible when it comes to accessing and repairing engine components on that side.
As a last resort, I included some tie down points for some ratchet straps “just in case.”
I made the tray bolt to the bracket so I could remove the battery/tie down as a unit to access the alternator, fuel pump, and shock towers underneath. I should be able to just unhook the cables, back out 4 countersunk Allen screws, and remove the whole top tray.
Paint is still not quite cured because it’s been sitting in my freezing basement - but once dry I’m hopeful this will serve to avoid a repeat of what happened last time. All told it weighs in at around 15lbs. My wife will be thrilled to get it off her dining room table and away from her Christmas decorations.
The base adjusts long ways to “grab” a battery from the bottom and should accommodate any length between 13.25” and 5.5” and as wide as 7.25”. The cross bar has width adjusters on the top to grab the top sides of the battery, and everything clamps in place. The bars run about as close to the hood as I dare - should accommodate at least a 9.5” tall battery.
In short - if I ever have to find a battery at a random Walmart ever again, this thing should hold it.
If all those clamps break loose, there’s a “fence” that will serve as the last line of defense between the battery and the exhaust.
This whole tray mounts to this bracket:
Which in turn mounts to the frame at 4 existing bolt holes, and the fender in one existing bolt hole. The last point of attachment is from the tray, to the old coil bracket on the fender. The “legs” had to snake around the radiator support and hug the fender. This keeps the bracket as out of the way as possible when it comes to accessing and repairing engine components on that side.
As a last resort, I included some tie down points for some ratchet straps “just in case.”
I made the tray bolt to the bracket so I could remove the battery/tie down as a unit to access the alternator, fuel pump, and shock towers underneath. I should be able to just unhook the cables, back out 4 countersunk Allen screws, and remove the whole top tray.
Paint is still not quite cured because it’s been sitting in my freezing basement - but once dry I’m hopeful this will serve to avoid a repeat of what happened last time. All told it weighs in at around 15lbs. My wife will be thrilled to get it off her dining room table and away from her Christmas decorations.
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