Poll: Stainless Steel Opel GT battery trays

[RallyBob]

A few weeks ago I was talking to a neighbor of mine at my shop. He manufactures all sorts of sheetmetal products, mostly for the automotive aftermarket. He has been a bit slow lately thanks to the economy, and asked if I was interested in having a small batch of stainless steel Opel GT battery trays made. The stamping dies are already in existance from years ago when I used to buy regular steel trays from him (for C & R Small Cars). These would be made from 16 gauge 304 stainless steel. If there's sufficient interest (15-20 pieces), he can make a small production run. Price would be $95.00. Please let me know if this interests anyone here.

Bob

[jlthunder]

I'd be interested. Mine is in good shape, but I'd put this on the shelf for the future

[badmaxdog]

I would also be interested in purchasing one.

[2 Fast 4 U]

Is it meant to be welded in, I mean can normal sheet metal be welded with stainless steel??

[MonkeyNutZ]

I'd love one, although I'm a little confused how the end mounts to the front pan? My battery tray and the surrounding front pan area are rusted away so I don't have a reference.

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by 2 Fast 4 U Is it meant to be welded in, I mean can normal sheet metal be welded with stainless steel??

Yes, you can MIG weld or TIG weld stainless steel to mild steel just fine. The welded area will not be rust-proof unless you use a high grade stainless filler, but strength-wise it works very well.

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by MonkeyNutZ I'd love one, although I'm a little confused how the end mounts to the front pan? My battery tray and the surrounding front pan area are rusted away so I don't have a reference.

This fits in the OEM configuration, so it would have to be welded (or bolted) to the framerail and cross-over beam above the belly pan. It is designed to be suspended above the belly pan, just like the original. However being stainless it will last a lot longer!

Found this old thread with a couple of photos of the OEM battery tray location.

[OK_Opel]

yea, if you end up getting these make sure to let me know. If I havent made something myself by that time i will buy one, this looks a lot better than something i would be able to make myself. chris.combs@us.army.mil

[tcav]

Please Bob,put me down for one.
tom kaye
tcavk@yahoo.com

[jerseydave]

Bob, I would be interested in getting one.

[Gary]

This poll was created to help track interest in a group buy of Stainless steel GT battery trays.

[Opel1_9]

Bob, I'm interested in one. Ron

[saxybiker]

Bob:

I voted in the poll that we would take one. If it comes down to needing another to make your run, let us know and we will buy another. Lord knows we have enough cars on which to use them.

Vickie

[RallyBob]

I spoke with the sheet metal manufacturer on Friday, he had taken a gamble and had already started making the battery trays! I might see them this week even...

[opelwasp]

Hey Bob, can the tray be oriented the other way on this design?

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by opelwasp Hey Bob, can the tray be oriented the other way on this design?

I don't know, I will have to ask the metal shop owner the next time I see him. I haven't been to my shop much since my accident however.

Bob

[Dale .D]

If I needed one I'd buy it.

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by opelwasp Hey Bob, can the tray be oriented the other way on this design?

Yup, no problem. Just let me know if you're interested in one, and I will have them pull one from the lineup and change the configuration.

The battery boxes should be done next week, as I mentioned the shop is very slow and they were very willing to produce these parts for me. Other things in the works possibly too...maybe a weld-in Manta battery tray in stainless, possibly some rocker panels for GT's and Manta's.

[BQS4]

Originally Posted by RallyBob maybe a weld-in Manta battery tray in stainless,

now THIS would interest me.....

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by BQS4 now THIS would interest me.....

I need to give him a good template to work from. My '72 wagon has zero rust on the sides of the battery box, and only slight perforations of the bottom tray. So I'll use this as the 'master' for a new repair part.

[BQS4]

Just thinking ahead/outloud, would this include the two mounting studs for the fuse box? Not that he has to, as you could run your own s.s. screws in through the battery side and just seal them off.

[RallyBob]

I would like to replicate as many OEM features as possible. This includes the hole for the wire harness, the battery hold-down, the fuse box retaining studs, and the hood release bracket.

[BQS4]

Originally Posted by RallyBob I would like to replicate as many OEM features as possible. This includes the hole for the wire harness, the battery hold-down, the fuse box retaining studs, and the hood release bracket.

VERY cool!!

[myopels]

Bob, I moved one of my manta batteries to the trunk, over the right wheel using a cardboard template for the shape, and then used a plastic box to keep the juice contained. I got some welding lead for the starter wire. I read that doing this is like moving your engine back 11 inches for better handling This was done in my propane Manta, and worked real well. It also got the battery away from the fuse box!

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by myopels Bob, I moved one of my manta batteries to the trunk, over the right wheel using a cardboard template for the shape, and then used a plastic box to keep the juice contained. I got some welding lead for the starter wire. I read that doing this is like moving your engine back 11 inches for better handling This was done in my propane Manta, and worked real well. It also got the battery away from the fuse box!

I've done this for many years as well, but some folks here need to repair what is already damaged, and some want to keep the battery leads short (as well with a trunk-mount battery the gauge of the wire needs to increase).

I hope you used a metal hold-down for the battery however! The plastic box alone will simply not contain a battery in an accident.



For those that tried to PM me yesterday, I just emptied out another 25 old messages...sorry!