V8 coversion battery relocation (1 Viewer)

[thebigredrocker]

76 FJ40

I just mounted my front right fender and noticed my stock battery tray bracket will put my battery up against the exhaust manifild.

Is the 4 Plus battery relocation kit the way to go? I'm not a fabricator so I'll need something ready made. I need my heater fan so I can't mount my battery there.

Thank you

 

[shawnfj40]

I have used these for relocation before and they are well made. http://www.btbprod.com/BATTERY-TRAY-ASSEMBLY-TOY-FJ40-LAND-CRUISER.html

 

[shelfboy1]

just raise the stock one up it can be done with some bolts and hardware store items

 

[Downey]

Our installation instruction sheet always had the installer using the stock tray, but moving it forward, closer to the head light. Care must be taken when doing this so that front of hood does not close down onto a battery terminal.

 

[B y r o n]

Since you say you are not a fabricator I suggest one or both of these depending on your need.

They mount the battery further forward and higher off the top shock tower bolt.

 

[thebigredrocker]

Thanks. Now guess I need to decide between the BTB Products and 4 Plus. I've been looking on Mud and google for some different angled photo's of both battery trays installed. Wish I could see some different photo's both installed.

 

[DPV7070]

I'm in the same boat, but I'm fighting a turbo, ford shock towers, and a power steering cooler... I think I'm going to have to re-engineer some things.

Once you get it done post up and show us what you did. I have a different engine, but sometimes looking at the opposite of your problem reveals the answer to the actual problem.

 

[thebigredrocker]

I will definitely post some photo's. Heck, I might just order both and sell the one I don't use. Half the battle in my resto-mod has been having all the correct parts. Everything was in boxes so I'm slowly figuring out what needs replaced.

 

[thebigredrocker]

Took one more photo before I put my stock bracket in the "don't need" pile. Figure maybe this will help someone in the future who is diving into a restomod sbc chevota V8 project.

63 corvette ramhorns from dorman

 

[thebigredrocker]

@lcwizard
I couldn't attach photo's via PM so I figured I'd post my question here

This is the passenger side bracket I just got. With the lip on the fender side there is a bracket on my fender that won't allow my 4plus tray to sit down so the oval hole lines up with the shock bolt. Do I need to cut the bracket off? I will try to attach a few photo's I took.

I also took a couple other photo's of the lip resting on the fender. One of the lip holes lined up with a 6mm fender nut hole. In this photo it appears if the shock tower mount was present rearward it would reach the shock bolt. Wondering if you can give me some additional guidance.

If someone can snap a photo of their 4Plus Products passenger side battery mount the might help me. This mount is super beefy, arrived within two days and I can't wait to get it mounted. Thanks lcwizard

 

[thebigredrocker]

This is painful to post because I just hacked a stock bracket off a nice FJ40. When I got this rig I decided to continue on the SBC conversion path that had been started by both the PO's. Due to lack of good installation photo's/details I decided to purchase two over-the-counter battery relocation remedies and see them in person, BTB Products and 4-Plus. Note: I currently have an electric fan that I'm not sure is going to adequately cool my .327. So I anticipate needing to scoot my radiator starboard to avoid a mechanical fan blade from thwacking the lower radiator hose. The BTB battery tray seems to position the battery next too the radiator which won't jive if I need to move my radiator.

I decided to go with the 4-Plus. In order to do this lcwizard gave me a couple options.

1)return my passenger side bracket in exchange for a drivers side bracket. Apparently the 4-Plus driver side bracket flipped around on the passenger side would still mount to the upper shock bolt and would position the battery next to the radiator. Might need to move my radiator, so I passed on that option.

2)in order to install the 4-Plus passenger side bracket in my 76 I needed to use a spotweld cutter to cut 8 welds that hold the stock coil bracket to the fender. This was an unexpected detail in the install process. But it puts the battery in a decent location. This would allow me to still move my radiator so that's what I did.

I was sort of comtemplating eliminating my stock heater blower, mounting the battery in that spot and installing an aftermarket all-in-one under dash heater. I need to get this project completed so I'll cross that bridge later.

Here's some photos in case someone else is doing a v8 conversion and wants to see some close-ups

Here's the BTB, it uses the two stock welded frame nuts below shock tower on inside of frame

 

[thebigredrocker]

I had a member PM me asking how much clearance I have between the battery and hood. So I raided my daughters Playdoh bucket. I put a mound on the forward most battery terminal and then closed the hood. I have about 2 inches from the top of the battery stud to the hood.

 

[diogenese]

I know it's not helpful for the OP but I made up a frame from 25mm angle iron and mounted my battery in the passenger footwell with enough room underneath to still be able to have a passenger with feet

 

[honk]

Following on Diogenes above, I don't have a SBC but with a big HEI distributor, fuel tank switch valve, and a desire to run two batteries I put two Odyssey 1200 batteries on their sides in an aluminum tray under my driver seat. With a Painless dual battery solenoid switching /charging setup all is good; there's more room under the hood and I've become a big fan of Odyssey batteries.

OR...Look at a 24 volt BJ 40 (diesel). The one I had carried two 12 volt batteries on factory trays right behind the headlights. If the tray could be sourced one or two batteries would leave plenty of room for the V8.

 

[Captn Conch]

I'm not fond of this right fender location. I bolted up 15"x5"x1/4" sheet of metal to the frame with the stock holder bolted to it and the fender. It has been fine over the years. Last year I had a battery that was on it last legs and I guess I left the charger on too long but it boiled over and the acid drizzled all over the place down the inner fender onto frame between passenger side front grill Panel and fender, about like yours is mounted..Overall it was a mess and I had to disassemble to clean up. However, I don't think a Chevota has a better option. Just watch your old battery and charge carefully.

 

[spotcruiser]

This is what I built for my V8 install. It's similar to Dave Gore's battery tray, but attached only to the fender rather than the fender and shock mount. It works very well and it's simply built with angle.

 

[awynne56]

Spotcruiser nice job and great idea .. I can weld so this is Def an option

Big red rocket thanks for info of the hood clearance... I'll try to take pic and stuff on the install of the heater. I think it's really easy so well see.

 

[diogenese]

Here is a pic of my footwell battery mounting .

 

[pbgbottle]

i guess we are are lucky up here in Canada , we just use the factory mount out of a BJ40/42 it fits perfect with the V8 moves the battery up and forward closer to the headlight . super stout mount ,mounted to frame only ,not to the fender ,

 

[thebigredrocker]

This is what I built for my V8 install. It's similar to Dave Gore's battery tray, but attached only to the fender rather than the fender and shock mount. It works very well and it's simply built with angle.

View attachment 1155175

View attachment 1155176

Spot- that is a sweet battery tray!