Replacement battery tray source

[alfacybersite <acs@domain.elided>]

In #763 Ian comments regarding on the removal of his battery tray in his
'71 Spider: "...i'm still thinking of relocating the battery to the
trunk, but leaving the stock battery tray intact in case i ever want to
easily convert it back to stock."

******

Personally I'd remove the tray from the engine bay and make the
installation as 'stock' looking as the location in trunks of later
Spiders.

First the look of an empty tray in the engine bay is going to look very
silly, "Hey dude do you have to push start it, use a magneto, and drive
without lights?"

I'm assuming you're repainting and pulling the engine. Take a photo
before and after you remove the tray. Use a spot weld bit and try not to
go through the inner fender when drilling. No doubt if the tray is shot,
it won't look so hot under the tray. This will give you a chance to
clean up the area before filling in the dimples left from the spot
welding.

Personally I'd start calling today if you want them sometime this year,
but call APE and order both an engine bay and trunk tray along with the
positive battery cable.

I'd clean up both trays as required and paint them along with the rest
of the car. However the trunk one will be welded in and the engine bay
one will be loose. Stick the latter in a box after paint is dry and
label it. Chances are you'll never open the box but it could go with the
car should you ever sell it.

This has been talked about, but there is some voltage loss with the
battery in the trunk, but shouldn't be a problem.

One has to be diligent with rear batteries and not forget about them.
Keep Vaseline / grease on the battery clamps, check the water using a
mirror fairly frequently, and clean up any 'spills' the moment they
happen.

It wouldn't hurt to pull the battery out of the car once a year, give it
a good clean, and make sure the posts are pristine along with the inside
of the clamps.

I absolutely cannot understand how people can allow battery connections
to grow green crud and overflow their batteries when filling.

The same goes with filling brake and clutch reservoirs. Let's see, top
price for a small plastic funnel is say 99 cents. By using it as a
matter of course for filling these items you will save yourself hundreds
of dollars in refurbishing when it comes time to paint. If one lets
their battery go without checking in the trunk, it could mean over a
thou$and if you have to buy a new spare tire well and have it properly
installed.

I've never had a battery which 'boiled over '. If I did, I'd make the
boiling go away immediately.

End of lecture.

Biba
Irwindale, CA USA
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