So I just got my truck up and running again after some great help from people on the board here.

1991 F250 7.3 5-spd CC.

I had to get new batteries and figured the rubber bungy cords the PO had been using to strap the batteries down were not going to cut in on $200 worth of new batteries. At some point the stock battery hold down parts were taken out and not replaced.

From what I can tell these trucks use the rectangle plastic wedge type hold down that bolts to the bottom of the battery tray.

Questions:
1) Is it just the plastic block at the bottom that clamps the batteries down or do they also use an over the top hold down?

2) Is there any good modifications for holding these puppies down?

Thanks for any info or tips you can lend.

Mark

 

It's just the plastic wedge piece, nothing over the top. You can get replacements at any parts store. They're pretty much universal. Check the battery trays to make sure they're not rusted out and that the threaded hole for the wedge's bolt is good to go. Otherwise I have no clue why the previous owner would get rid of the wedges.

Mike

 

Thanks for the info! I just double checked the nuts on the battery pan and they look fine. I'm guessing at some point someone put in the wrong batteries and just pitched the pieces. Oh-well, rock auto has them for like $3 if the locals are charging too much.

Mark

 

Cool. Just make sure to give the batteries a couple real good yanks after you put everything in to make sure they're truly secure.

Mike

 

I've been running with /nothing/ holding my batteries in(except for cables and gravity) for over a year with my new batteries, and far longer with that before I replaced them. I'd expect that all you really need/want is some way to keep them from tipping or bouncing too much if you go off road or hit potholes hard enough to really jar them; a couple of bungy cords or metal straps or what-have-you should work just fine.

 

whats acceptable really depends on how your truck is set up. in an F150 i used to have, i lost 2 batteries into the fan, a few months apart. there was NOTHING in their way to make that path, except the hold down straps, which failed - the first one from rust, and the second one from the battery hot terminal walking over and burning through it. in my van on the other hand, the batteries only have a couple inches to move, and haven't been tied down in the 50k+ miles i've been driving it.

 

Good point, actually, one that I didn't think of. In my F250, they are bounded by a metal strap on the outside of the vehicle, AC pipes on the inside, a bar on the front, and some wires and such on the right rear, and a strap holding the radiator overflow tank on the left rear. On top of that, because the positive battery cable is tied in across the front of the vehicle, they can't go far, so the worst they could do is jump up and possibly tilt a little.

But some don't have AC, and evidently some are setup differently as well.

 

then while your system isn't "right", the batteries don't have far to go, and they're just as good as mine. but we all should inspect every possible route of motion before you say its good enough! or you'll have the same results my F150 did back then.

 

i made a custom tray with all thread and wing nuts over a plate holding everything down

you can see it on the right side on this pic