Battery tray & apron delete idea (pics)

[reenmachine]

So I was replacing some of the steel in the front subframe of the new project car and had what I think is a pretty cool idea while I was at it. The battery's going in the trunk and I wanted more room in the right front wheelwell for some tubular bracing. I cut out the right front apron, got a driver's side front fender apron, modified it a bit, and worked it into the spot on the passenger's side.

I like how it came out and it will look totally factory once everything's smoothed out and painted.

This car has no shock towers due to the R&C front end, but it would work just the same on a shock tower car.

 

[bnickel]

looks good but i do see one small problem, the stampings are backwards. maybe you could cut the stampings out and reverse them and then weld them back in. that would make them look absolutely perfect and they'd match the other side 100% as well.

i don't want you to think i'm knocking it all, because i think it's an awesome idea, just needs a bit more work to be perfect, like what i'd expect to see from you.

 

[reenmachine]

looks good but i do see one small problem, the stampings are backwards. maybe you could cut the stampings out and reverse them and then weld them back in. that would make them look absolutely perfect and they'd match the other side 100% as well.

I thought about that before I did it and opted not to mess with it. The stampings don't do anything and the important part (to me) was just having something other than smooth metal there. Smooth metal would have made things look "street rod" and that's not what I'm going for. Once the engine compartment is fully populated it won't even be noticeable that the stampings are reversed from one side to the other, but it will be noticeable that there's no battery niche and that the metal in its place has a factory look. That was my thought process at least.

 

[bnickel]

ok, well it definitely lokos better than smooth sheetmetal for sure.

 

[NasaGT]

That looks far nicer than a regular "battery tray delete". Very nice.

 

[sburkey1967]

I did the exact same thing on mine and it worked out slicker than snot.

Glad to see I was thinking the same way you are, especially with the cars YOU build.

I mounted the overflow tank there with all that space left, you can just see the cap poking out.

Kinda hard to see in this pic, but if you'd like to see a clearer one I can snap it tonight.

I have to point it out everytime somebody notices there is no battery, they really don't even notice the backwards stamping. Looks great, really clean.

 

[68GT500KR_Vert]

I went with the sheet metal. I like the smooth look.

 

[iskwezm]

saw that done a few years ago, but i think i get more room with the recess.

 

[reenmachine]

saw that done a few years ago, but i think i get more room with the recess.

Depends on where you want the room. I want it on the other side.

 

[66Runt]

.

 

[chromedog]

i didnt replace the apron, but i did smooth the flat for the battery tray, and used the space to mount my duraspark module... it almost looks factory, as i got 3 msd isolation rubbers, and mounted the module on them. BTW, are those amsoil bottles i see in the background of the first picture?

 

[sburkey1967]

A little bit better shot, granted pretty dirty but gimme a break, in work.... Anyway, you can see it a little more clearly.

oh and thanks for the compliment 66! Greatly appreciated, it has been a seemingly endless road, slowly but surely....

 

[66Runt]

.

 

[reenmachine]

Are you planning to build your fresh air box on the fenderwell side? If so I'd be interested in following your progress, as I will be doing something pretty similar on my '66.

No, I need the room for some structure. I'm building a tubular brace from the front of the frame rails up and back to the upper firewall/cowl (all inside the wheelwell) to beef up the MII IFS.

 

[reenmachine]

BTW, are those amsoil bottles i see in the background of the first picture?

You bet! I run it in all of our daily drivers. I just changed the oil in my truck and those are the bottles.

 

[reenmachine]

A little bit better shot, granted pretty dirty but gimme a break, in work....

Looks great! The only thing I did differently is the top flat surface. I left a couple of inches of the part of the old apron that goes down towards the battery shelf and then brought that metal up flat with a hammer & dolly. That way the top surface is wide all the way from front to back just like the driver's side. Not better or worse, just a different approach -- I just wanted the additional space on the inside to make my tubular brace easier to make.

 

[garner67]

I deleted my battery tray fender apron with a piece of sheetmetal, and I agree the completely smooth metal looked a little plain.

To break up the look of flat sheet metal I installed a stainless steel access panel, which houses a relay panel for headlights, electric fans and driving lights.

 

[68GT500KR_Vert]

OK, this is different. A door to somewhere in the engine compartment!

I deleted my battery tray fender apron with a piece of sheetmetal, and I agree the completely smooth metal looked a little plain.

To break up the look of flat sheet metal I installed a stainless steel access panel, which houses a relay panel for headlights, electric fans and driving lights.

 

[JC6715]

Dang, that's pretty durn slick! I like it... You ran those wire so pretty it's kind of a shame to hide them... Ha!

 

[mustangman1974]

Dang, that's pretty durn slick! I like it... You ran those wire so pretty it's kind of a shame to hide them... Ha!

Will that door open with an engine in there?