Stupid battery tray....wtf?

[EL1NOR]

I'm currently rewiring my 67 fastback wiring harnesses and I've run the main engine harness all the way through and now it's to the point where it needs to go under the battery tray. I also am replacing the old tray with a new one I bought from NPD.... BUT -- I unbolted the top two bolts on the tray and I can't get it out. With a flashlight I could see it looks as if the little bottom arm of the tray is attached to the car at two points but there aren't any bolts on the things, it just looks like the back side of a screw. So I checked under the fender against the side wall for the other side of the 2 screws but all I could find were two big bolts. These two bolts must be the ones... but the one closest to the front is literally 1/2 concealed behind the front frame of the car... I don't get how to remove this damn thing!

lol

Any help?
-Tim

 

[tomcatgt]

Not sure if they are the same but on a 65 you must loosen the bumper brace to get access to the one lower tray bolt. They don't have nuts on them just screw in. Mine had one stripped out so I had to put a nut on it.

 

[tomcatgt]

One other thing. Don't be surprised if you have to bend the support arm on the tray slightly to get the bolt holes to line up.

 

[EL1NOR]

Thanks tomcat! It makes sense now.... I'm just surprised that Ford built it like that... weird.

Unfortunately I can't just finish the job right now, I have to go get cleaned up and leave for rehearsals for a play I'm in.... that, and it's my GF's birthday.. lol

THANKS AGAIN!,
-Tim

 

[MustangPaul]

I fought this same battle a few months ago. Seems as if the cowl and battery tray were the first things down the assembly line and the rest of the car was built around them.

Beware of the "Boy, this looks like an easy part to take off/replace." Once you've said that, you'ver cursed yourself!

--P

 

[hdgapeach]

Don't you love it!!? Something so difficult disguised to be simple! A cutting disc on a 4-1/2" angle grinder will cut the threaded part of the bolt off from the engine compartment side. If you ain't got one, you can pound on it with a hammer and chisel and shear it off, or atleast mangle it enough so you can bend the bolt shaft enough to get it out. Then crawl under and pick the remaining head out of it's confines with a cotter pin puller. Next try to install the new bolt from under there. When that don't work, crawl back out and grind off half of the head of the new bolt at an angle so when you take it back under there you can get the angle of the dangle right, and maybe, if you hold you mouth just right, you will be able to finesse the thing in there. When you get ready to put the nut on you will need someone working with you from the engine compartment side while you attempt to hold the modified head with some tool to keep it from spinning! Have fun!

 

[MustangPaul]

. . . and maybe, if you hold you mouth just right, you will be able to finesse the thing in there.

I always forget to hold my mouth just right!

Don't forget to get about 36 odd years worth of grit and dirt in your left eye, causing you to bang your head on the support as you slide out from under the car.

I usually take that as a sign to go get a beer.

--Paul

 

[hdgapeach]

Yeah, what MustangPaul said. Just make it a six pack. This is a ridiculous amount of labor for one stupid bolt!

 

[GaPonyFarm]

Yeah, what MustangPaul said. Just make it a six pack. This is a ridiculous amount of labor for one stupid bolt!

That's why I own a cutting torch and several fire extinguishers!

 

[yellow68pony]

My '68 is basically the same way, except the two lower bolts, actually are bolts with nuts on the fender wall side. Had to look carefully though because they were partially hidden by the bumper supports.