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panic_fan
Samba Member
Joined: April 21, 2008
Posts: 711
Location: Mcdonough GA
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 Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 10:02 am Post subject: Driver Side Battery Re-Location |
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What all was needed to swap the battery over to the driver side???
Any1 have any hints/suggestions?
Just the longer + cable? Im guessing you found a bolt to ground off of on that side?
I want to get a new tray all welded in, but the bus was freshly painted when bought and I want to wait a while. Right now I have some stainless covering the rust hole, but Im afraid of the battery making an early exit.
_________________
Rich
Brilliant Blue/Cloud White
1970 Baywindow Bus
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=291988&highlight=
"Still learnin the way around my VW bay"
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VDubTech
Samba Member
Joined: December 29, 2002
Posts: 9142
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 10:11 am Post subject: |
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| I ran a longer positive cable from the starter up over the tranny and through a grommet in the firewall that already existed. It was a tight fit, but it went through just fine. I also replace the negative cable with a short cable and attached it to the drain hole of the spare tire well. The hole is already there, a simple nut and bolt is all you need to make the connection. I can snap some pics for you tonight after work if you have any questions. I've been running it like that for a while now with no problems, and I don't have to worry about dropping my battery out of the Bus through the rusted tray. |
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panic_fan
Samba Member
Joined: April 21, 2008
Posts: 711
Location: Mcdonough GA
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| Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 10:21 am Post subject: |
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| VDubTech wrote: |
| I ran a longer positive cable from the starter up over the tranny and through a grommet in the firewall that already existed. It was a tight fit, but it went through just fine. I also replace the negative cable with a short cable and attached it to the drain hole of the spare tire well. The hole is already there, a simple nut and bolt is all you need to make the connection. I can snap some pics for you tonight after work if you have any questions. I've been running it like that for a while now with no problems, and I don't have to worry about dropping my battery out of the Bus through the rusted tray. |
Pics are always great. Whenever you get a minute.
Its nothing Im doing in the next few days, but on my "Things to do pretty quick list!"
_________________
Rich
Brilliant Blue/Cloud White
1970 Baywindow Bus
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=291988&highlight=
"Still learnin the way around my VW bay"
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VDubTech
Samba Member
Joined: December 29, 2002
Posts: 9142
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 7:43 pm Post subject: |
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Couple pics--sorry, the battery isn't installed, I swiped it to put in the Squareback for a bit, but you get the idea. I can snap some pics of the underside whewre I routed it if you'd like this weekend when it will actually be light out....
Grommet on left side of engine compartment where new positive cable comes through:
Here you can see the negative cable bolted to the body via a hole that already exists in the spare tire well. No permanent modifications were made to the Bus....
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grandfatherjim
Samba Member
Joined: April 23, 2007
Posts: 172
Location: near Ottawa, Canada
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| Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 8:51 pm Post subject: |
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| What do you have to prevent the battery from floppin around? |
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VDubTech
Samba Member
Joined: December 29, 2002
Posts: 9142
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 9:12 pm Post subject: |
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| grandfatherjim wrote: |
| What do you have to prevent the battery from floppin around? |
Gravity. |
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grandfatherjim
Samba Member
Joined: April 23, 2007
Posts: 172
Location: near Ottawa, Canada
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| Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 9:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Pretty reliable stuff |
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Desertbusman
Samba Member
Joined: June 03, 2005
Posts: 14655
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 12:24 am Post subject: |
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It's been time proven to be reliable.
_________________
71 Superbug
71 Westy |
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Desertbusman
Samba Member
Joined: June 03, 2005
Posts: 14655
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 12:59 am Post subject: |
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So the battery tray is rusted and rotted out. But that's probably mainly in the center. Isn't there remnants of the tray around all the edges? So carefully make a cardboard pattern that snugly fits all around. Cut a nice plywood tray and seal it with something like polyurethane. You would probably want to clean,prime, or POR 15 the remaining portion of the original tray to keep it from getting worse. And actually you would probably want to get in there with tin snips and cut most of it out except for an inch or so around all the perimeter. That's sufficient to hold your new wood tray. Instead of wood you could cut one out of heavy gauge aluminum or anything else that's strong. Even though water can get in the vent, there is absolutely no reason to ever get battery acid down on the tray or anywhere else in the engine compartment. Get a plastic battery box. And if you arn't completely happy with gravity, also get a plastic tray to secure the battery box to. Coat you terminals with the goop that prevents (eliminates) any corrosion. The cover of the battery box keeps it all clean. I just switched the battery in my bug. It's either the second or third battery (can't remember) in the last 11 years. The battery cables and clamps are as nice as the day they were put in. They have never been cleaned, they look like new. And for some reason, there has never been any of that terrible acid moisture on the top of the battery. Dry as a bone. You could wipe the top of the battery with your white shirt and not hurt the shirt. I think it has to do with the goop on the terminals. Don't waste your time with the felt rings, no good. My bus battery and battery box has only been in there a couple years and the whole thing is as fresh and clean as new and probably will be for decades. The goop on the cable ends also prevents corrosion from working it's way down the cable under the insulating cover.
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71 Superbug
71 Westy |
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dan macmillan
Samba Member
Joined: October 19, 2003
Posts: 3110
Location: Northern Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 7:02 am Post subject: |
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| VDubTech wrote: |
Couple pics--sorry, the battery isn't installed, I swiped it to put in the Squareback for a bit, but you get the idea. I can snap some pics of the underside whewre I routed it if you'd like this weekend when it will actually be light out....
Grommet on left side of engine compartment where new positive cable comes through:
Here you can see the negative cable bolted to the body via a hole that already exists in the spare tire well. No permanent modifications were made to the Bus....
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That hole is meant to be a drain if you put a wet tire in the tire holder. Your starter and everything else will work much better if you were to attatch the neg ground cable to the engine. If you have a T4 then attatch it using the bolt that secures the oil cooler bracket. If running a T1 then the rear fuel pump stud will do fine. Also secure your battery. Vibration kills batteries not to mention the potential fire if it were to tip over and short out.
_________________
Licensed Automotive Service Technician
Licensed Truck and Coach Technician
Licensed Heavy Duty Equipment Technician
CFC/HCFC/HFC A/C handling and installation license
Alignment specialist
66 Modified Manx,68 Kyote,74 Thing,74 Beetle, 76 Transporter,75 self made Double Cab,65 Meyers Manx,78Westy,68 Ghia, 79 Bradley GT2
Current projects:
Built for others:69 Manx Clone |
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static
Samba Member
Joined: March 22, 2002
Posts: 1831
Location: The High Desert
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| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 7:12 am Post subject: |
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| Desertbusman wrote: |
| So carefully make a cardboard pattern that snugly fits all around. Cut a nice plywood tray and seal it with something like polyurethane. |
The esteemable Desertbusman speaks for me. Keep it simple. Plywood works fine. |
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panic_fan
Samba Member
Joined: April 21, 2008
Posts: 711
Location: Mcdonough GA
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| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 7:34 am Post subject: |
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| VDubTech wrote: |
Couple pics--sorry, the battery isn't installed, I swiped it to put in the Squareback for a bit, but you get the idea. I can snap some pics of the underside whewre I routed it if you'd like this weekend when it will actually be light out....
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Thanks VDub Tech.
_________________
Rich
Brilliant Blue/Cloud White
1970 Baywindow Bus
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=291988&highlight=
"Still learnin the way around my VW bay"
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Mark
Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2003
Posts: 1523
Location: Victoria, BC Canada
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| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 7:53 am Post subject: |
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| dan macmillan wrote: |
| That hole is meant to be a drain if you put a wet tire in the tire holder. |
Good thing I don't hold a spare tire!
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VDubTech
Samba Member
Joined: December 29, 2002
Posts: 9142
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 8:03 am Post subject: |
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| dan macmillan wrote: |
| That hole is meant to be a drain if you put a wet tire in the tire holder. Your starter and everything else will work much better if you were to attatch the neg ground cable to the engine. If you have a T4 then attatch it using the bolt that secures the oil cooler bracket. If running a T1 then the rear fuel pump stud will do fine. Also secure your battery. Vibration kills batteries not to mention the potential fire if it were to tip over and short out. |
I wasn't asking for advice, I was providing pics the OP asked me for. I know what the hole there is meant for. The spare on my Bus is mounted securley to the front and the spare tire well is covered quite nicely by the rear mattress. My ground cable is just fine where it is as is my battery. It can't tip over, the negative cable is too short to allow it go anywhere.
Covering the original battery tray with plywood or other such hackery would be great, but there isn't enough left of the tray to even hack something in there. The battery tray will be replaced properly and then the battery will move over to the correct side. |
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NASkeet
Samba Member
Joined: April 29, 2006
Posts: 2958
Location: South Benfleet, Essex, UK
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| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 8:13 am Post subject: |
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| grandfatherjim wrote: |
| What do you have to prevent the battery from floppin around? |
| VDubTech wrote: |
| grandfatherjim wrote: |
| What do you have to prevent the battery from floppin around? |
Gravity. |
Not a good idea!!!
_________________
Regards.
Nigel A. Skeet
Independent tutor (semi-retired) of mathematics, physics, technology & engineering for secondary, tertiary, further & higher education.
Much modified, RHD 1973 VW "1600" Type 2 Westfalia Continental campervan, with the World's only decent, cross-over-arm, SWF pantograph rear-window wiper
Onetime member, plus former Technical Editor & Editor of Transporter Talk magazine
Volkswagen Type 2 Owners' Club (Great Britain)
http://www.vwt2oc.net |
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VDubTech
Samba Member
Joined: December 29, 2002
Posts: 9142
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 8:20 am Post subject: |
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| NASkeet wrote: |
| grandfatherjim wrote: |
| What do you have to prevent the battery from floppin around? |
| VDubTech wrote: |
| grandfatherjim wrote: |
| What do you have to prevent the battery from floppin around? |
Gravity. |
Not a good idea!!! |
I didn't ask your opinion!!! Nor do I care......It's worked just fine for me for well over a year now, so don't waste your breath. |
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hazetguy
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2001
Posts: 10773
Location: iT StiNgeD iTseLf tO dEAd
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| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 8:23 am Post subject: |
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| VDubTech wrote: |
| NASkeet wrote: |
| grandfatherjim wrote: |
| What do you have to prevent the battery from floppin around? |
| VDubTech wrote: |
| grandfatherjim wrote: |
| What do you have to prevent the battery from floppin around? |
Gravity. |
Not a good idea!!! |
I didn't ask your opinion!!! Nor do I care......It's worked just fine for me for well over a year now, so don't waste your breath. |
and you whiners call ME negative? 
_________________
thebucket: I invested in hoodride, now DBD won't return my call?
hazetguy: invested?
thebucket: Yeah Haze, its where people put money into a company in hopes of a return on their money |
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grandfatherjim
Samba Member
Joined: April 23, 2007
Posts: 172
Location: near Ottawa, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 8:26 am Post subject: |
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| NASkeet wrote: |
| grandfatherjim wrote: |
| What do you have to prevent the battery from floppin around? |
| VDubTech wrote: |
| grandfatherjim wrote: |
| What do you have to prevent the battery from floppin around? |
Gravity. |
Not a good idea!!! |
Gravity is not an idea. |
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