'72 Battery Compartment - NCRS Discussion Boards

'72 Battery Compartment

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  • Wendell Allen

    '72 Battery Compartment

    Hi All..........

    The battery compartment is trashed in my car. Not only are all the metal brackets rotted to the point of non-existence, but a couple of small holes have been eaten through the fiberglass. But now that I think (!) about it, maybe the holes were where some of rivets originally were. Hmmmmm. I'll have to check.

    I recall where CC or Zip or someone has all the hold down stuff, including the rivets, so I'm set there. But if the holes are in fact where the glass is rotted through, I want to patch them.

    Do you have a suggestion for the patch? Or should I just do the usual chamfer out the edges, glass it, sand it, and paint it? I seem to recall a series of strings a while back regarding patching luggage rack holes, and how poorly they hold without cracking. I don't want this to happen to me on this if I can prevent it. On the plus side, it's a relatively small surface area by comparison to the back deck with tall walls around it, so maybe it won't flex as much as the back deck and cracking won't be a problem.

    Or am I just going to have to give it my best shot and hope for the best?

    Regards, Wendell
  • Gary S.
    Extremely Frequent Poster
    • July 31, 1992
    • 1632

    #2
    Re: '72 Battery Compartment

    Wendell, If you are certain that these aren't rivet holes then by all means patch them using the standard technique of chamfering the edges and filling. As an example, I had a u-joint fail on my 66 and the half shaft flailed around and destroyed one of the boxes. I salvaged the biggest pieces and using the standard fiberglass techniques, I successfully rebuilt the rear comparment. I actually had to point out the repair to a neighbor who didn't see it when I told him about it. If the holes are big, you might consider putting a sturdy backing plate on the outside of the box. This will give your fiberglass a flat surface so that when you are building up and filling it will be a uniform, flat surface. Another suggestion, if the amount of damage is substantial, is to use a donor bucket from a salvage car and graft it in.

    Gary

    Comment

    • Joe L.
      Beyond Control Poster
      • February 1, 1988
      • 43202

      #3
      Re: '72 Battery Compartment

      Wendell------

      There are several normally present holes in the bottom of a 72 battery compartment. Of course, these holes will be of regular shape and size. There are, of course, the holes for the rivets for the battery forward (permanent) clamp. There are also the holes for the battery rear clamp bracket. In addition, there is the hole for the negative battery cable and there are also the two holes for the battery vent hoses (these are anachronisms today since virtually all replacement batteries are of the sealed type; the hoses may have been rempoved and discarded long ago).

      Also, as I recall, there is a hole for the drain plug. If I recall correctly, there is a rather unusual drain plug located in this compartment which consists of a rubber plug which is about 1-1/2" long and, mostly, extends below the battery compartment. This plug is externally slightly tapered, fabricated of black rubber and has a cross-like internal pattern. It is designed to let water flow out of the compartment. If I recall correctly, this plug is located in the battery compartment. However, it is in either the battery compartment or the passenger side storage compartment, but NOT both. This plug is GM #3948148 and, believe it or not, is still available from GM for $5.08 list.

      If you need to perform a repair, a strong fiberglass repair is very feasible, although achieving exact original configuration and an "un-repaired" appearance may be difficult. Personally, I would use fiberglass cloth rather than mat to achieve the strongest possible repair. Others may differ on this point, but that's what I'd use.
      In Appreciation of John Hinckley

      Comment

      • george romano

        #4
        Re: '72 Battery Compartment

        joe- you are 100% correct on the description and location of the drain plug -- battery compartment. its nice to see that it is still available. george

        Comment

        • Don O'Connell #33101

          #5
          Re: '72 Battery Compartment

          Wendell,

          There's a battery compartment fiberglass section on ebay...



          Don

          Comment

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