Battery Compartment Trauma

[Keith M.]

So it seems the battery compartment on my 69 convertible experienced some sort of trauma/damage in the past and a previous owner did something to repair it. See attached photos. My assessment to date is that it seems reasonably structurally solid...though one of the vent holes for the battery tube needs drilled out...and more importantly...with repair/replacement of most of the forward part of the compartment bottom...there are no holes to mount the front battery hold down brackets. I guess I am gonna have to see if I can drill some and make that hold down work. But my question is...I cannot determine what material was used to do this prior repair. It appears to be some sort of plasticized or fiberglass material. Any thoughts...and if I need to do some more repair and/or reshaping...what material should I consider using. The goal here is to ensure structural intergrity and enable install of the new front hold down bracket.

[Bill M.]

Re: Battery Compartment Trauma

First off I know nothing about 69's. I would cut out the old repair then Clean up both sides with a fine wire wheel give yourself plenty of overlap lay down fiberglass matt and grind to fit. Drill out the anchor holes as needed. Install new brackets and you are on your way.

[Mark F.]

Re: Battery Compartment Trauma

Hi Keith,

Unrelated to your f/g repair, I would also make sure you clean up that ground cable lug; the bolt and threads that hold it to the frame; and the frame surface where the lug makes contact. If it were mine, I'd add an external lug star washer between the lug and the frame to ensure a good ground is provided...the sequence there would be bolt; lug; star washer; frame...dunno if that's what your '69 AIM says, but a bad (or weak) ground can cause you lots of grief down the road...good luck!

[Mark E.]

Re: Battery Compartment Trauma

If you just want a functional fix, repair the fiberglass as Bill suggests.

If you want want a cosmetic fix that looks original, you'll need to find a battery box bottom from a donor car. I discussed this in a couple of other threads; see "similar threads" below.

[Owen L.]

Re: Battery Compartment Trauma

I've seen other posts seeking battery compartment repair, here and on the Corvette Forum. Anyone know the cause of this sort of damage? Is it a leaking battery eating away and weakening the fiberglass, or did someone drop a battery down into the well, cracking the glass, or might it have high-centered or something and broken it from the outside?

[Keith M.]

Re: Battery Compartment Trauma

I've seen other posts seeking battery compartment repair, here and on the Corvette Forum. Anyone know the cause of this sort of damage? Is it a leaking battery eating away and weakening the fiberglass, or did someone drop a battery down into the well, cracking the glass, or might it have high-centered or something and broken it from the outside?

That is a GREAT question and observation as I wondered the same myself. The area is too well protected to be a physical contact thing...at least HIGHLY unlikely....my best conclusion to date is leaking battery acid ate it away. Mine IS on the front side where the terminals connect...OTOH the vent tubes come out the back...not sure if any of that matters.

[Mark E.]

Re: Battery Compartment Trauma

Two causes of damage I've seen more than once: battery acid and half shaft/u-joint failure.

I suppose it's susceptible to ground/object impact as well since it's pretty low, but I haven't seen that.