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So after 32 years of holding down batteries, she finally let go.
After perusing LMC, it looks like i'm stuck with what I already have, which I don't like.
Growing up with GM's, I always had to deal with battery hold downs that looked like this:
Is there any other way to hold down the batteries in our trucks with something closer to the GM style? They GM style worked just fine for me, and the wing nuts work too, but boy I hate the look of it, and my Motorcraft battery has little indents where one of the GM style hold downs would work. Has anyone tried to retrofit one of these in before?
The thing is with the GM type when it rust in place it either breaks off flush and you cant put anything else in or the head rots and cant undo it and it will for sure snap the bolt.
What was wrong with the LMC one?
What you have there is not for that battery size or that battery is not for that truck / holder.
From what I can make out from the LMC site it is like that type of holder you have just wider to fit the battery, with the J hooks.
It should also have a bracket that goes from the J hook closest to the radiator support to the support.
I will need a hold down for my truck and will most likely get it from LMC.
You should be able to get a "fit all" battery hold down at the parts store that will work better that what you have there.
Dave ----.
I don't see why you could not just drill a hole and use the GM style clip. The problem is, you would have to do some modification to the other side also, it needs a permanent lip for the battery to sit under, and then the other side has the GM removable lip, so the battery is trapped on both sides. A small piece of angle iron bolted to that piece of metal that the threaded "J" rod goes into should work.
Or possibly you could find room to use 2 GM style hold downs one for each side.
The thing is with the GM type when it rust in place it either breaks off flush and you cant put anything else in or the head rots and cant undo it and it will for sure snap the bolt.
What was wrong with the LMC one?
What you have there is not for that battery size or that battery is not for that truck / holder.
From what I can make out from the LMC site it is like that type of holder you have just wider to fit the battery, with the J hooks.
It should also have a bracket that goes from the J hook closest to the radiator support to the support.
I will need a hold down for my truck and will most likely get it from LMC.
You should be able to get a "fit all" battery hold down at the parts store that will work better that what you have there.
Dave ----.
The LMC one is exactly like what I have now. When I went to the Ford dealer to get a Motorcraft battery, that's the group size it required, can't remember the number now, 27 F I think? Anyway, the holder that's there now is the exact same one they advertise in LMC, hence why I'm looking to see if there's any other options available out there. I'm not worried about the GM one breaking off because I can always find other ways to prevent it from rusting, plus the truck is rarely ever driven anyway so moisture will not be a problem anyway.
I don't see why you could not just drill a hole and use the GM style clip. The problem is, you would have to do some modification to the other side also, it needs a permanent lip for the battery to sit under, and then the other side has the GM removable lip, so the battery is trapped on both sides. A small piece of angle iron bolted to that piece of metal that the threaded "J" rod goes into should work.
Or possibly you could find room to use 2 GM style hold downs one for each side.
That's what I was thinking as well, but didn't know if there was anything else available out there other than LMC.
I don't see why you could not just drill a hole and use the GM style clip. The problem is, you would have to do some modification to the other side also, it needs a permanent lip for the battery to sit under, and then the other side has the GM removable lip, so the battery is trapped on both sides. A small piece of angle iron bolted to that piece of metal that the threaded "J" rod goes into should work.
Or possibly you could find room to use 2 GM style hold downs one for each side.
That sounds like a lot of work for a battery hold down.
Originally Posted by SVTDriver97
The LMC one is exactly like what I have now. When I went to the Ford dealer to get a Motorcraft battery, that's the group size it required, can't remember the number now, 27 F I think? Anyway, the holder that's there now is the exact same one they advertise in LMC, hence why I'm looking to see if there's any other options available out there. I'm not worried about the GM one breaking off because I can always find other ways to prevent it from rusting, plus the truck is rarely ever driven anyway so moisture will not be a problem anyway.
I know from LMC picture it is like yours but I think the top cross part you have is not for your truck and why it does not fit the battery.
It will be a bit before I need a hold down for mine but will post how it goes.
Originally Posted by Franklin2
They have these at the parts stores.
That was the type of hold down I was talking about.
Dave ----
Hate to ask the obvious but why not just swap in the battery tray from the 87 and later trucks ? It will bolt right in and gives you the side clamp mounting...
Hate to ask the obvious but why not just swap in the battery tray from the 87 and later trucks ? It will bolt right in and gives you the side clamp mounting...
And I would say that is why the thread was started so someone in the know would post the answer.
Thanks
Dave ----
Hate to ask the obvious but why not just swap in the battery tray from the 87 and later trucks ? It will bolt right in and gives you the side clamp mounting...
Have you ever done this by chance? Anyway to make the tray fit in my 86?
Have you ever done this by chance? Anyway to make the tray fit in my 86?
Anyone else done this?
I did this over 25 years ago now and I can't recall if all the bolt holes lined up or couple needed redrilled but I do recall the install was easy peasey and it got rid of those goofy over battery mounts where the hold down bolts always rot through . I always hated those, I will hand it to GM they got that base mounting thing right. The only place I would not use it is in applications where large impact shocks are experienced (IE a vehicle that sees air time) then I would stick to an over the battery mount.
If it will pass your local safety inspections, get a ratchet strap and wrap it around the battery and tray/fender to take out the slack and tighten it down.
Took me 5 minutes and hasn't moved in a few years.
If it will pass your local safety inspections, get a ratchet strap and wrap it around the battery and tray/fender to take out the slack and tighten it down.
Took me 5 minutes and hasn't moved in a few years.
I prefer something that looks a little less "monobuttockular"
I used 4 wide hook vertical battery hold down rods, I think I got them from Bronco Graveyard (https://shop.broncograveyard.com/Bat...uctinfo/28064/). I see they now also make this style in stainless, nifty. Then flattened the bracket on each side off the radiator support to fit through the J bolt closest to the rad support, and lacking a proper hold down for the top I cut cut length off a crusty aluminum framing square, drilled holes in the appropriate locations, and glued a strip of old motorcycle tire tube onto the underside. Works great, very solid mounting. unfortunately my driver side battery tray has cracked in half and is thin. I'll have to weld it up and reinforce it or make a new one. Nobody makes new driver side trays.
In any event, not a great picture but you can see the hold downs.
