I've just finished welding in my TCI front crossmember and suspension and am about to start on my cab rust repair. I have a one piece front floor section that I acquired at PF2001 and I'll be welding it in place of the rusted out section that is currently there.

My question is: has anyone had experience with welding in their transmission cover that is typically screwed in place in the factory installation. I'm not restoring the truck so originality is not an issue. I just finished building my own english wheel and I have the other metal working tools to build a nice weld-in or screw in panel.

I'm using a 302/C4 combination and I don't think clearances are much of an issue but I'd plan to put a slight hump in the panel just to be safe.

 

Tim, I am reusing the old cover plate that bolts on because I want to install the Lokar shifter through the hole as soon as the cab shell gets back on the frame. I did weld shut the battery cover and have added a frame mounted drop down battery box about 8 inches where the old battery box was hanging on the running board brackets. Some pictures are in my gallery, but the battery box does not show up very good. If I had gone with a column auto shifter, I would have welded the cover over the hole in the floor.

 

Ranger Pat:

I'm using a column shift so it appears that welding the access plate is a viable option for me.

I would be interested in details on your battery mount. I've been trying to engineer a battery tray mounting system that would be in or near the present location but be accessible from underneath the truck.

A clear picture of your setup would be most helpful if you would be able to photograph it.

 

My cameraman is out of town, so it may be a while before I can post pictures of the battery box. Look at the center top picture in my gallery and scroll all the way to the bottom of the image. The box is in the center. It is called a current model Econoline aux battery box.
It has one removable bolt and three that loosen so the box slides back and drops down on cables to access the battery. The plastic top has a provision to route cables into the box. I've got around $115 in the box, cover and hold down block.

 

Thanks for the tip on the battery box, I'll check it out.