85_Ranger4x4
Wallers in rivers
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V8 Engine Swap
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2007
- Messages
- 36,656
- Points
- 2,001
- City
- Frankfort
- State - Country
- IA- USA
- Vehicle Year
- 1985
- Engine
- 5.0
- Transmission
- Manual
First gen battery trays generally don't age well, this is how I fixed mine.
I started out with this beauty.
I got all that removed and cleaned up.
Then I hit the JY to find something that might work. I knew second gens had the same dinky battery tray but they were riveted in so I looked at fullsizes. Bullnose Fords had the tray made into the inner fender so that was no dice but I did find brick noses (87-91) had a tray that had potential so I snagged one.
This just might work...
Cut off the rear brace and drilled three holes to actually mount it:
Do watch your clearances, I had to grind some on the corner for the tray to clear my alternator (302 with 96-01 Explorer accessories)
And now I can fit a 65 class battery. I had to be careful on the mounting as the clamp ends up at the front and will easily disappear under the radiator support.
I started out with this beauty.
I got all that removed and cleaned up.
Then I hit the JY to find something that might work. I knew second gens had the same dinky battery tray but they were riveted in so I looked at fullsizes. Bullnose Fords had the tray made into the inner fender so that was no dice but I did find brick noses (87-91) had a tray that had potential so I snagged one.
This just might work...
Cut off the rear brace and drilled three holes to actually mount it:
Do watch your clearances, I had to grind some on the corner for the tray to clear my alternator (302 with 96-01 Explorer accessories)
And now I can fit a 65 class battery. I had to be careful on the mounting as the clamp ends up at the front and will easily disappear under the radiator support.
