The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Battery Relocation

I have a 49 --3100 and I want to move my battery from under the floorboard to the engine compartment. Anyone know of a aftermarket battery holder/tray that will fit and where I can buy one?

Summit Racing, Speedway Motors. Most automotive after market supply houses offer them. Pick up a copy of Rod Action or Street Rodder magazine they advertise heavily in there.

That's on my "to do" list. I'll weld up a simple one out of steel or aluminum angle. I can't decide whether to put it on the firewall or on the inner fender.

I've seen guys pull the batt. bracket off the frame and mount it on the firewall. Grinding some rivets may be required. I've also thought about putting it under the seat. Lots of room under an oem bench seat.

Yeah, but probably not a good idea with the gasses that come of a lead acid nor with the corrosion it can create.

Maybe the lead acid gasses will neutralize the behind-the-seat gas smell. Seriously, what's wrong with the original location? I know they moved them under the hood in 54 on the firewall, but I find that location awkward looking. Another aspect of moving a very heavy item further forward takes weight off the rear wheels. I know its only a few feet, but it makes a difference. This is why hotrodders move the battery to the trunk. I have been stuck on a sloppy wet, perfectly level muddy road in one of these trucks. They need more weight toward the rear.

that's why they have that big 'tray' on the back, to carry weight

Doug - you could simply get a battery tray from one of the later years that had them originally and paste it under the hood - used is cheapest!!

Bill

That's what I did.

The 1954 and 1955 1st still had them under the floor - they got moved in the 55 2nd.
Samantha

When I moved the gas tank to the rear, I put a dry cell behind the seat with a cut out switch.

Regular batties give off hydrogen when they charge. I've seen regular batteries explode during charging (and splash acid everywhere), so unless you buy a battery designed to be vented & vent it, I wouldn't put it in the cab.

Millions of Volkswagens ran billions of miles with the battery under the back seat.

That said, I see no reason to remove it from it's original location on an AD.

Yup. In addition, late model Cadillacs and Buicks are running the battery under the back seat as well.

I wouldn't put it on the inner fender as it's to heavy, the inner fender is not strong enough to handle the weight of a bouncing battery.

Mike B

I was thinking of bracketing off of the radiator mount? And maybe picking the support rod? Dunno. I'm not at that point yet.

I kinda don't want to see the firewall tear out, either.

[quote=johntsmith]When I moved the gas tank to the rear, I put a dry cell behind the seat with a cut out switch.

Me too, use a Optima battery seal it up and forget it.

Me either. I've made a whole bunch of changes on my truck and leaving the battery where it was is a no-brainer, it's actually a nice handy place for one.

I didn't have a good original box/tray and wanted a little larger one so I'm using one of the stainless drop down boxes sold by the aftermarket/hot rod shops for these trucks.
In my other truck I made the original longer by moving one bracket back and making a new bottom.

Grigg

I wouldn't put it on the inner fender as it's to heavy, the inner fender is not strong enough to handle the weight of a bouncing battery.

My 62 had it on the inner fender when strictly stock.

I made the battery "box" for mine out of 2"x2" steel angle iron and mounted it to the firewall. I didn't want the battery under the box or bed, or behind the seat. A friend of mine had the battery on his AD behind the seat, it caught fire while he was working under the truck in the garage one day and did a lot of damage to his truck. I'll never have a battery in the cab.