Topic: Battery / Battery Tray

[ChrisV289]

How does one go about removing the bottom bolt closest to the front?  It seems the bumper bracket is in the way to get a socket on the bolt and the bolt looks like it won't even be able to move out?  Are my bolts mounted in the wrong direction?  Also, what is everyone using as a battery to just take to local shows?  I need a new one and I can't find one with the lip on the side for it to be held down correctly.  I've gone to Autozone, Checker/O'reilly, Sears, Batteries Plus, and Walmart.  They all have the group 24 but no side lip...Thoughts?

[carlite65]

on the driver type cars that i do i use a motorcraft battery combined with the 67 holddowns. looks better than an aftermarket brand imo. there is an exide brand battery that has the lip for the original holddown and you can also fit one of those cheesy (imo) fake battery tops. not sure of the exide #. as for the bolt, i have had to resort to removing the bumper bracket.....lotta work for one fastener.

[ChrisV289]

Carlite,

Kind of a stupid question, am I able to take the bumper bracket off on the passenger side and everything else is still held together?  The tray could use some blasting and repainting but if it involves taking the whole front off I might just leave it.  Thanks for the brand name, I'll see if any are sold around here.

[kutzoh]

Chris-
   I picked up an exide battery with the lip on the end for the hold down at TSC (Tractor Supply Store) here in Ohio. If you don't have those there in AZ, you might want to try your area's tractor / ag supply store.

Greg

[ChrisV289]

Actually I was able to find one at Pep Boys.  Bosch group 24 batteries have the lip that is needed.  Still waiting to see if anyone can tell me if I can pull the passenger side bumper bracket off w/o taking everything else off to remove the battery tray...

[Brian Conway]

I took a look at the tray in my San Jose, May, 65 fastback and it appears you have uncovered another of those wrenching delights.  It does seem that the bumper bracket has to be removed to get to the bolt heads.   Both bolt heads are on the wheel side of the fender wall and  behind the bumper bracket. The sheet metal clips are on the motor side and below the battery tray.  Good luck with that one.  Brian

[Brian Conway]

Perhaps if you loosen the bolt from the sheet metal clip the whole unit will slide upward enough to get it apart ?  Brian

[ChrisV289]

I was able to loosen the bumper bracket bolts and get that final bolt out.  Looks like when they designed this they didn't have in mind that they would need to take the tray out but leave everything else in place.  Anyways, I got the tray out and to my surprise the tray is original to the car.  The metal though on the top is not smooth anymore and is in not so good shape but I'd rather keep it in the car.  Now what color are the clips supposed to be that are at the bottom that hold those troublesome bolts in?  Right now they are black but I assume that is not right....Anyone?