Just another old truck.

[Denee007]

Wow Earl, how creative you are! I just love your tilt front end!!!!

On my truck the battery is under the passenger side with a drop down "thing" to get to it. OMG, I dread the day that I'll have to remove the battery! lol
dne'

[Kim57]

That came out real nice.
Kim

[Clarance J]

Thanks Kim57. Today I got most of the welding done on the battery box. Also primered the tray. I had to notch the side that is closest to the frame to clear the leaf spring mount so I boxed that in. I needed that extra 3/4 of an inch. Have to fab a hold down bracket when the battery is pushed back in. Got the mounting part figured out. So I'm almost there. Fill up some ends on the tubing, clean up the welds then put some paint on it. Next week I'll work on the cover.

[Advanced Design]

The battery box is coming out very nicely!

[Kim57]

Real nice.
Kim

[Clarance J]

AD and Kim thank you. Spent part of this afternoon grinding and test fitting the battery box. Got mounting holes drilled and mounted frame. Put battery in to make sure there was no interference anywhere and all looked good. Enough room for cables. Yup. Now to take it back out and do the finish work. Weld in some mounting bracket supports and figure out a hold down system.

Earl

[Kim57]

Looks like it fits real nice. I would probably turn the battery around so there would be less chance of the terminals hitting.
Kim

[Stepside Jim]

Anything that is homemade and has a multi-functional action to it is always gonna get 2 thumbs up from me.

I can imagine the time looking and thinking and rubbing the chin, then the measuring, then committing to cutting, then welding and fitting.

Keep up the good work Clarance J.

[Advanced Design]

Can't say it any better than Stepside Jim said...nice work Earl.

[Clarance J]

Hey Kim57. That thought had crossed my mine. The battery could fit either way so I will try turning it around and check the post clearance. Since the cables did reach the high firewall position there is plenty of length to experiment with. I don't want any sparks flying around.

Stepside Jim. Thank you for the thumbs. There was a lot of I think you might say "pre-measuring" and this will work but that won't but if I do it this way. That you know is where the fun part comes into play. Luckily I had to recut only the three cross pieces due to design error. I had to leave out the nylon washers. Their diameter was too small.

Advanced Design, Thank you for the complement.

I have an idea on how I'm going to build the cover. Haven't figured out the hold down yet. That tomorrows project. Thanks again.

Earl

[OrrieG]

Wow, never seen one in that location, nice work. I also would say to be careful with the posts. I thought about relocating mine, but figured if I every had any problems with it in the boonies I would probably have it buried in snow or a mud hole.

[Clarance J]

Hey OrrieG. I've never seen one in that location either but it just seemed logical to fill that empty space. With the tilt front its easy to get to without laying under the truck.
Clarance J"s boonie days are over. Years ago when I was between jobs I was cutting wood up in the mountains here in So. Oregon to make ends meet. Drove a lot of miles on old logging roads to get to the cut sites. Those were fun days. As long as I didn't get to crazy he would always get me home. Got stuck in the mud once and had to put snow chains on to get out. What a mess that was. Just want to say that I've enjoyed your stories about your camping trips and back wood adventures. I'm sure there are more in your future. Thanks.

Earl

[RockinKees]

Clarance J, Earl, I just read your hole thread.
I'm speechless....

I really do like the way you invent things and build them yourself, and with only a few handtools!
I find that true passion.
We all can learn from that! Great ideas, maybe steel some of it

[Clarance J]

RockinKees, Thank you very much. One of the things I like about this forum is being able to see others work and share what we are doing. I've gotten ideas from other builders and hopefully something I post will spark the imagination or show what can be made. I also like the idea of something old being put back to use again maybe in a different form. And sure, steal away, because you have helped me with ideas on my wiper system. Thanks again.

Earl aka Clarance J.

[Clarance J]

Still working on the battery box. Figured out the hold down and how I wanted to make the box cover.

[Clarance J]

For the cover I drilled and cut key holes. The cover will drop in and then slide up and a lock system (yet to be determined) will keep it in place. I knew that I didn't want a square cornered box so this idea came up.

[Clarance J]

I had some 3/4x 3/8 tubing that was given to me. Some part of a lawn swing they were getting rid off. Sure I'll take it. You never know when you'll need it. And eventually you will end up with something like this. On the part with the jog I cut the hex off a 3'' 5/16 bolt and its inside the tubing for strength. The skin will be from one of Clarance J's old doors. That's it for today. I need more clamps.

Earl

[Advanced Design]

Since I first learned to tap hole 40 plus years ago I have always been vertically challenged...now I can fix that! Great ideas here Earl and great work. Thanks for sharing!

[RockinKees]

Thanks!

As I said: more nice ideas, they keep coming!!

You're right about this particular forum, everbody is helping each other, no "funny" answers that you're not asking for, you know what I mean, only serious helpers here!

So keep building, I'm subscribed!!!

[Stepside Jim]

Yeahhhhh, the the hacksaw bending technique is back again.

I've been looking at the picture of the door for hours now, I found that if I get within 2 inches of the computer screen and slightly cross my eyes, then slowly draw back I can see the skin of the battery cover in the picture.

On the serious side.... I mentioned it before but I totally enjoy the step by step of peoples hand fabrication.

Good work, Jim

[Kim57]

Really nice fab work.
Kim

[Russell Ashley]

I enjoy reading this thread as there is always some interesting thing going on. I did a double take though when I first saw the tap in the drill press, before I read how you do it.

[Clarance J]

Well I'm a couple of steps closer to finishing this battery box.
But first I like to thank you guys for the nice comments. Its good motivation.
On the cover fab the side closest to the frame I had to cut it apart because when I welded the 3 pieces together something slipped in the clamps. Just an oops. I also discovered that my rear fender brace is going to be in the way by about 1/2''.

[Clarance J]

Finally got the two halves to fit together. Its going to work out just right. Some grinding of the welds, drilling holes in the cover to weld through and I should be close to finishing. I think its going to be painted yellow. We'll see. I need to figure out how the cables are going to enter the box. More pictures as progress is made.

Earl

[Advanced Design]

That looks really good Earl. Many good learning examples here for me. For example Ospho as I've never heard of it before. Thank you for sharing.