Topic: 65 Battery Tray

[rodster]

Thought this was covered before but didn't find anything with a search.

Battery tray with a date code stamping.

65 Dearborn car with a April 19th scheduled build date.

[rodster]

Is the bend at the bottom typical of an original 65-66 battery tray? 

If so, it's a tell tail sign of an original as is the radius of the upper bend.

Thought I'd show a comparison of a current repop.

[drummingrocks]

Wow, I had no idea the repros were that far off!  I always wondered why I had to force them to bolt up properly!   

[DM_1964]

I'm sure the manufactures say "Eh, close enough, good enough"...

[drummingrocks]

I'm sure the manufactures say "Eh, close enough, good enough"...

Right.  It'll fit....after some careful modifications with a 40lb sledgehammer!   

[rodster]

Found this picture of a NOS battery tray.

Seems a NOS piece is closer to the repop as opposed to the original as far as the bend in the support leg?

[CharlesTurner]

Your original may have been bent.  Also, not uncommon for service replacement parts to not match original factory line pieces... and then repro makers using NOS parts to copy.  You'd be best finding some other original battery tray samples to compare and then decide what you want to do.

Also... consider that the battery tray may have gone through some revisions from original issue and the NOS piece is modeled after the last version.

[rodster]

Lots of good points.

The radius of the lower bend looks too tight and clean to be done by accident, but perhaps it could be?

I agree, examples of originals would be nice to see, hence my previous question.  You can bet I'll be looking for this detail if I come across any original cars. 

Is the bend at the bottom typical of an original 65-66 battery tray? 

[ChrisV289]

I just took some pictures of my original battery tray.  (excuse the dirt as I am still detailing the car for Tucson)  Hope this helps:

[Bob Gaines]

I just took some pictures of my original battery tray.  (excuse the dirt as I am still detailing the car for Tucson)  Hope this helps:

The date code stamps separates the genuine from a repro although I have encountered a few OEM trays without date code stamps too. The vast majority of genuine ones have the stamping then not.   

[rodster]

I just took some pictures of my original battery tray.  (excuse the dirt as I am still detailing the car for Tucson)  Hope this helps:

Thanks!

Looks more like the repop but much cleaner bends. 

[Brian Conway]

Just had to go look.  The tray on my San Jose car has the same date stamp as Rodster's first picture.  My 5R09A car scheduled build June 1 actually was a little earlier as it was picked up at the dealership May 29.  Battery tray date stamp 4 5 2D.  There also seems to be a date stamp on the radiator support wall in this same general area.  Brian

[rodster]

Just had to go look. 

More than once I ran out to the garage at night to check on something. 

Just had to go look.  The tray on my San Jose car has the same date stamp as Rodster's first picture.  My 5R09A car scheduled build June 1 actually was a little earlier as it was picked up at the dealership May 29.  Battery tray date stamp 4 5 2D.  There also seems to be a date stamp on the radiator support wall in this same general area.  Brian

Wow, what are the chances of the same date code?     Another good picture of an original battery tray.  I'm beginning to think the extra bend in mine was due to the weight of the battery and the surrounding area being weakened by the rust.

Thanks for looking and reporting back