Battery Tray Question

[Randy in Maine]

Our buddy here in Maine needs to have a new battery tray installed in his bus, but we don't want to mess up his nice paint job.

Is the use of something like this a good idea to get a good long term fix?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000Y89JC8/ref=biss_dp_t_asn

[babysnakes]

I would not use it for that application. 5200 is great stuff for sealing small holes and seams. It dries flexible and holds pretty steadfast. I've used it on several small boats. I would just be concerned about vibration and the weight of the battery, though it is an adhesive, I don't think it was designed to bear loads.

[jtauxe]

I don't think there is going to be any "good long term fix" that does not involve messing up that paint. Gonna have to weld.
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[aerosurfer]

Didn't Jon eche_bus do that in the very beginning of his projects on that bus? He dropped in and glued a new tray without welding
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[aerosurfer]

[aeromech]

Randy,
I had a bus project a few years ago that had a rusted out battery tray.

I bought a replacement tray and trimmed it down to where I could lay it over the old metal.

I sealed it in using 5200 and painted the engine bay

It came out nice

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[wcfvw69]

I'd talk to an automotive body shop supply place. They have panel bond adhesives now that are as strong as spot welds. Last time i checked, they were a bit pricey though.
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[lil-jinx]

Could bolt brackets onto the frame to support the battery tray and just seal it around the body panel.
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[Lil Lulu]

I was able to weld in a new tray and save the paint. I trimmed the old tray( don't buy Klockerpiss) about 1/2 inch from the the edge and trimmed the new tray so that I could butt weld it in. I used a heat fence clay near the outer skin surface when welding. I used liberal amounts of muriatic acid washed out repeatedly to remove the rust that was left and treated the whole shebang with Jasco Prep and Prime, then coated with MasterSeries Silver X2 and then paint X2. That was 6 years ago. Still looks great.

My "battery box" was made from multiple layers of duct tape when I got it.

My thoughts are do it right or not at all.
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[OB Bus]

I am on year 13 of a replacement battery tray made of 3/4 exterior ply. The tray was 70% gone but the entire "rim" was still solid. Cleaned up and neutralized the rust, painted the wood and then used a couple of carriage bolts to secure.
5200 is an amazing product that will adhere anything to anything. It is also one of the messiest, sticky, nasty things I have ever used.
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[babysnakes]

[alman72]

small container of the 3m panel adhesive cost is not too bad. The problem is, the dispense gun costs more that the adhesive. I can borrow one from my work, so I will be trying this stuff this summer on a couple of panels.

https://www.amazon.com/3M-08115-Panel-Bonding-Adhesive/dp/B000PEW4MI

[aeromech]

[Lil Lulu]

I used 5200 for years on boats. If you get it where you don't want it and don't notice it's gonna take a bomb to get it loose.
_________________
'65 Beetle "Lil' Lulu"- Ruby Red
1600 stock from '71 bus

'72 Deluxe - Niagara Blue w/pastelwiess Camper Special 2L dual 40 Webers 002

'74 Hightop Weekender "Dixie" 1800 34 Del singles

[Spike0180]

I used some m3 panel bond on my bus. That stuff is strong. Check out some video's of proof. It is what ford uses to put together their aluminum f150 truck beds. That is what I would use if I were trying to save my paint job. Besides that $80 is much cheaper and easier than the $500 of body work and re-paint with blending.
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[Randy in Maine]

Thanks for the good advice!!

I will suggest to our buddy that we just install it using some 5200 or similar product and we just paint it all up nicey nice. It will keep his battery all nice and secure and we can get him driving down the road instead of waiting around the paintshop.

I knew someone had already been through this!!

[aeromech]

You'll need a die grinder with cutoff wheel to do a lot of trimming. The new one should lay down like a glove
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[levi20AE]

I would cut out all but about a 1/4" from the edge of the old rusty panel leaving a nice "shelf" all the way around to glue the new tray on top. This way there is not a lot of area in the center where the two layers of metal could trap moisture and dirt that will lead to more rust later. You'll have to cut the folded lip off the new tray and use seam sealer around the edges to keep anything from getting between the panels.
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[aerosurfer]

Where are people buying battery trays from lately? Who's the vendor to go to for the right metal as of late?

For both L & R late bay trays
_________________
Rebuild your own FI Harness..My Harness

77 Westy 2.0L Rockin and Rolling Resto!

72 Sportsmobile (sold)
79 Tran$porter... Parts car money machine (gone)

[Wildthings]

Make a battery tray using 4 or more layers of cloth and maybe some additional bracing and then tape the tray into position, running the cloth up the insides of the battery tray area, again using multiple layers of cloth. Not only will you have a rust proof battery tray, but the sides of the battery compartment will not rust either.