'53-55 battery tray

[Peter R.]

The battery tray in my '54 is getting somewhat thin due to corrosion. See picture (after I applied rust converter). I've been looking online for an accurate reproduction. The NCRS manual specifies the ribs you see in the photo. I haven't found any reproductions for the '53-55 Corvette with the ribs, even though some suppliers state that their tray is an accurate reproduction of the original part. I have found, however, that Goodmark makes a battery tray for the 6 volt battery in the '53-54 Chevy passenger car that is identical to the tray in my car except for the attached mounting structure under the tray. Does anyone know of a supplier offering a truly accurate battery tray for the '53-55 Corvette that includes the ribs? If not, I am very tempted to buy a passenger car tray and modify it by adding the Corvette mounting structure.

[Chris S.]

Re: '53-55 battery tray

Pete
Couple things
C Central used to sell a repro tray - the issue with it was the bottom was flat and not ribbed
When we judge - that is one item that is looked for is the ribbed bottom
I am currently working with C Central to make an accurate repro tray for the 53 54
They scanned a very very nice original tray and we are working on making a nice repro
I am not sure when it will be ready

Yes - There are repro trays out there with no legs
They are not very good - at least the ones I have
They are also for a Pontiac
The ribs are not well pronounced and the edges of the tray would need to be trimmed to look right
The ends need some t******* as well - the edges and side are long.
Its an ok repro but you can tell its a repro
1 big issue is spot welding the legs to the bottom
If one had an spot welder you could make one
I have original trays and you would have to drill out the welds and transfer over the legs

Only other option is to try and find a really nice tray which is hard since they all get corroded

Chris
TiN Restorations

[Peter R.]

Re: '53-55 battery tray

PM sent to Chris.

[Gary B.]

Re: '53-55 battery tray

Pete,



Gary

[Chris S.]

Re: '53-55 battery tray

I am working with C Central on an accurate repro

[Gary B.]

[Wes S.]

Re: '53-55 battery tray

Hope that won't be made in China

[Peter R.]

Re: '53-55 battery tray

Well it took me more than a year to follow through on my plan, but I finally did. I bought a reproduction battery tray intended for '49-54 full-size Chevy. It is virtually identical to the '53-55 6-volt battery tray, except for a bracket extension above the tray. My original tray has a number of holes in it due to 70 years of acid-induced corrosion. Using a cut-off wheel, I removed the bracket above the tray. Then on my original tray assembly, I used a 3/16" drill bit to drill out the spot welds. Using a MIG welder, I "plug welded" the two original brackets to the bottom of the new tray. Using an air die-grinder with 2" sanding disk, I sanded the welds flat. I painted the entire assembly semi-gloss black. Given the continued unavailability of an accurate reproduction of the '53-55 6-volt battery tray, I think it turned out pretty nice and should be good for another 70 years (maybe longer, as new batteries are probably less leak-prone). By the way, the new repro tray is not made in China; it's made in Taiwan.

[Leif A.]

Re: '53-55 battery tray

Pete,
Very creative and very nicely done!!

[Don H.]

Re: '53-55 battery tray

Pete, that's a Faan - Tastic piece of work.. I bet that would fly through judging without a hiccup!