Poll: Stainless Steel Opel GT battery trays

[RallyBob]

For anybody who has voted in this poll since yesterday, please PM me with your zip code for shipping estimates.

Thanks,
Bob

[Thom71GT]

Ill take one

[RallyBob]

Bump back to the top...have only received a few payments so far.

[clayfive]

me too. mine is nothing but flakes.

[RallyBob]

Bump again. Only 8 payments received out of 19 interested?

I'll be packing up the eight that have been paid for tomorrow.

[samdog]

Yes, I would buy a stainless steel battery box

[RallyBob]

Anybody else considering a GT stainless steel battery tray should contact me directly via PM rather than in this thread, as the poll is no longer running.

Thanks,
Bob

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by samdog Yes, I would buy a stainless steel battery box

I'm assuming you mean for a Manta/Ascona. That's another thing altogether from the GT battery trays, and IF I decide to have those made I'll post another poll on the subject. So far it isn't looking too good however, as less than half of the people that said they wanted GT battery trays have actually replied via PM. I suspect it'll be harder to sell Manta parts than GT parts!

[RallyBob]

Photo from first batch....

[jlthunder]

Bob;

Very Nice. They wouldn't be making the small battery hold down piece would they?

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by jlthunder Bob; Very Nice. They wouldn't be making the small battery hold down piece would they?

Nope, just what you see. I have actually never even seen an OEM hold-down, they don't hold up too well in New England GT's! So I have nothing to pattern from.

[jlthunder]

Originally Posted by RallyBob Nope, just what you see. I have actually never even seen an OEM hold-down, they don't hold up too well in New England GT's! So I have nothing to pattern from.

I have one in my GT. During its winter nap, I can send it to you if you want to make a pattern. I will need it back when it wakes up in the spring.

[samdog]

I'm not sure why you think that it would harder to sell Manta/ Ascona Stainless steel battery boxes than gt ones? Over the years I have purchased north of 20 M/A and only one had a usable battery box. There must be a market for few hundred.

[Phoenix]

I have to agree with Samdog. It's almost a necessity. It the only place with any rust on my Manta.

[Thom71GT]

Originally Posted by RallyBob Photo from first batch....

SWEET!!! One of those is Mine!!!

[PROPEL]

Originally Posted by RallyBob Nope, just what you see. I have actually never even seen an OEM hold-down, they don't hold up too well in New England GT's! So I have nothing to pattern from.

You mean, like this?

[Lindsay]

Originally Posted by PROPEL You mean, like this?

At least one (1) of my GTs' had battery "clamp" that fitted on top of the entire battery. I am using a larger battery now, so clamp would not fit, even if I could find it somewhere in the garage. I probably tossed it out!

[samdog]

Originally Posted by Phoenix I have to agree with Samdog. It's almost a necessity. It the only place with any rust on my Manta.

Thank you for understanding. One down thee hundred and fifty seven to go { 357 more people to get it}

[neuropel]

Assuming you had a stainless battery tray for a Manta/Ascona, would you want to weld it in? I think it would be prone to dissimilar metal weld issues. You may be just as well off to have them made from the same gauge steel as the original so they can be properly welded in, then coat the repair well (both sides) with something like POR-15. Alternatively, perhaps there's an adhesive out there now that could be used.

Todd

[BQS4]

Originally Posted by neuropel Assuming you had a stainless battery tray for a Manta/Ascona, would you want to weld it in? I think it would be prone to dissimilar metal weld issues. You may be just as well off to have them made from the same gauge steel as the original so they can be properly welded in, then coat the repair well (both sides) with something like POR-15. Alternatively, perhaps there's an adhesive out there now that could be used. Todd

Todd;
Lou's Wagon has a stainless steel exhaust tip, welded to a regular galvanized pipe, and except for the regular dirt and road grime, it looks like it was welded yesterday.

[jlthunder]

Originally Posted by PROPEL You mean, like this?

Nope, it is just a small piece of metal about 1" x 2" which is basicly flat with opposite 90 degree curves at each end. There is a hole in the middle for the screw. It holds the battery down at the bottom. I'll try to get a picture of it this weekend.

[PROPEL]

Originally Posted by jlthunder Nope, it is just a small piece of metal about 1" x 2" which is basicly flat with opposite 90 degree curves at each end. There is a hole in the middle for the screw. It holds the battery down at the bottom. I'll try to get a picture of it this weekend.

Oh, yeah! I know which one you mean. And that little bottom bracket you describe works best for holding down the battery, too. I don't suspect it would be too difficult to fabricate.

[BQS4]

Originally Posted by jlthunder Nope, it is just a small piece of metal about 1" x 2" which is basicly flat with opposite 90 degree curves at each end. There is a hole in the middle for the screw. It holds the battery down at the bottom. I'll try to get a picture of it this weekend.

This is like the hold down for the Manta/Ascona

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by neuropel Assuming you had a stainless battery tray for a Manta/Ascona, would you want to weld it in? I think it would be prone to dissimilar metal weld issues. You may be just as well off to have them made from the same gauge steel as the original so they can be properly welded in, then coat the repair well (both sides) with something like POR-15. Alternatively, perhaps there's an adhesive out there now that could be used. Todd

Todd, no issues with welding stainless to mild steel. The actual welded area will be more prone to rust than the new stainless, but no more so than the regular mild steel.

Best part is the bottom of the tray should never rust again in our lifetimes. I figured if someone is going to remove the dashboard and the associated wiring to properly replace the battery box, might as well make it a permanent fix!

[neuropel]

Originally Posted by RallyBob Todd, no issues with welding stainless to mild steel. The actual welded area will be more prone to rust than the new stainless, but no more so than the regular mild steel.

That's easy for you to say Mr. TIG Welder with your fancy SS rods!
For us mere mortals stuck with MIG welding, I've found it can be tricky - lots of popping and bubbling because the melt temps are different. Perhaps using SS wire in the MIG would be different? Or perhaps it takes different gas?? I'm CERTAINLY no expert - just relaying my own experience. I can get "decent" welds with MS sheet metal that are plenty strong structurally with proper penetration, but the few times I've tried stainless it ended in frustration. Could try it with a Henrob, but I haven't practiced enough to gain that much skill.

IF you have these SS battery boxes made, I'd certainly be on the list to get one though - I'll find someone that can weld it in properly!

Originally Posted by BQS4 Todd; Lou's Wagon has a stainless steel exhaust tip, welded to a regular galvanized pipe, and except for the regular dirt and road grime, it looks like it was welded yesterday.

Let me use it over the winter here in PA - I'll show you some rust in March/April dude . Seriously, I suspect that welding the stainless tips to the aluminized exhaust pipe probably works fine, especially with no salt. But remember that Eagle ("knee grinder") I had? I had a shop do a quick repair between the SS flex pipe and another MS piece of exhaust pipe and it didn't hold up well at all here.