TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sat Jul 14, 2018 7:13 am

Hi folks,

I recently had to replace the 6v battery in my '65 bug. I decided to go with the Optima red top, despite reading that the quality has declined now that they are made in China.

I researched how others have installed them, but came up with something that I hadn't seen before. Not necessarily better, just another option. Thought I would share what I did.

Materials used:

Two metal bookends
8" length of 3 1/2" x 1/4" oak board
Rubber terminal covers
Rubber floor mat
Strong glue

Basically, I created a cradle with the bookends to prevent the battery from tipping over. I first put the 8" piece of oak across the battery tray so that it was resting on the raised edges. I found that this created a nice level surface to start from. I glued the oak board in place. Next I glued the bottoms of the metal bookends together, overlapping them so they formed an 8" long cradle. Then I glued the bookend cradle to the oak board. The battery sits in the cradle running parallel to the rear seat. I put rubber caps on the cable terminals and then covered the entire area with a heavy duty rubber floor mat. The mat might be overkill, but didn't want to take any risk of the seat shorting on the terminals.

Here's a link to the bookends I used:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BQX0VDQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Here are some photos:

Materials (other than bookends):

Cradle created from bookends and glued in place (in the photo you'll notice a rough area on the floor of the cradle...this is a garage door vinyl paint sample that I used to level out the slight ridge created by the overlapping bookends):

Battery in place with terminal covers:

Rubber floor mat covering battery:

Sat Jul 14, 2018 9:13 am

Looks good to me .

Sat Jul 14, 2018 9:40 am

Nice. Were the cable caps from Amazon too?
If you already have a link, I'd like to add to my amazon list for future reference

Edit:
I think it's these?
https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Sea-Protective-Automot...+cable+cap

Sat Jul 14, 2018 9:52 am

EverettB wrote: Nice. Were the cable caps from Amazon too?
If you already have a link, I'd like to add to my amazon list for future reference

Edit:
I think it's these?
https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Sea-Protective-Automot...+cable+cap

Thanks. Yep, those are the ones. I got mine for $4.99 at West Marine (there is a store near me). They have them online...even with shipping I would think a better deal than Amazon!
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/blue-sea-systems--c...ecordNum=4

I should have mentioned that I cut a slit in them to fit over the cable.

PS I just checked shipping....$9.99 to Virginia. Oh well, I guess it's about the same as Amazon with their "free" shipping :wink:

Edit: Just noticed that my battery was made in Mexico, not China. Does that make a difference in the quality?

Sat Jul 14, 2018 2:11 pm

I just bought a pair too.

$3.97 here:
https://shop.pkys.com/Blue-Sea-4017-Cable-Cap-Stra...huEALw_wcB

total $7.92 incl shipping to me in PA

Sat Jul 14, 2018 3:13 pm

What type of glue did you use? I think pop rivets would have worked nicely as well. Really cool idea. I used a cutdown fiberglass battery box and some pieces of wood to wedge it in.

Sat Jul 14, 2018 3:30 pm

Nothing fancy....had this on hand. Thought about rivets for putting the bookends together, but was already using glue for the wood.

https://www.amazon.com/E6000-237032-Craft-Adhesive-Clear/dp/B004BPHQWU

Mon May 13, 2019 3:07 pm

I welded an 8mm nut and bolt to the new pan to mount an original battery hold down and canted it some for a little more room.