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TR2/3/3A TR3 Battery Box Replacement

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H

Hatman

Senior Member
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Next project on the slate this winter is a battery box replacement. Any tips/thoughts/advice? Any links, etc., with good pictures? It looks pretty straightforward, but I thought I'd see if there's any thoughts/warnings out there.

As you can see, the box definitely is due for replacement. Looks like someone riveted some metal in prior to smearing everything with undercoat and painting.

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One other question: anyone know what the two small pieces of unfinished metal taped to the front of the box (from TRF) are for?


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I think those plates can replace the factory ones that are on the inside of the bulkhead, near the top - backing plates to help with the welding.
 
When I replaced the battery box in my TR3, I used the one from TRF. If you're going to replace the whole box as TRF makes it (with the upper section), you most likely will have to cut out the two inch section right in front of the box in order to get the new box in. You'll then have to make up a new piece to weld in. I tried all kinds of ways to get the box in without doing that, but was unsuccessful. Maybe someone has the key, but I couldn't figure it out.

The other alternative is to cut half of the top section of the new box off. Then it will go right in.
 
Here's how we did one on a club member's TR3. When it was time to put the new one in, we used a 2 by 4 and pushed it down hard till it popped into place.
 

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After your done with the metal work, don't do what I did... and that was, purchase the plastic liner box. When I got mine, it was too tall so I had to cut it. Then, all the moisture from driving had no way to dry, so it sat under the plastic box and rotted again fast. Yes, I even had the drain hole done right to begin with, but plastic against metal likes to hold onto moisture for some reason.
 
Hi Peter I listed one of my old post about the battery box replacement on my car to the forum, not sure how to move it to yours though.
 
mallard said:
Hi Peter I listed one of my old post about the battery box replacement on my car to the forum, not sure how to move it to yours though.
Click to expand...

Here's the link for future refererence...

Keith, you just have to make the link like any other. Copy the link while your in it and use the second icon at the top (the little globe thingie) and then paste.
 
I had so much rust and corrosion around the battery box that I removed the scuttle vent drain well, battery box, and a bit of the bulkhead. To fit the new box (can't remember where I bought it but I think TRF), I ended up cutting the new box into two pieces and rewelding the seam. I uploaded way too many pics to photobucket, in case you want to watch a guy learn a lot about sheet metal welding and rust repair. Note, the box I purchased came with the wrong tabs for battery hold down so I scalped tabs off old box and moved them to new.

Pat

https://pbckt.com/s1.NCR

DSCN0947Large.jpg
 
PatGalvin said:
I had so much rust and corrosion around the battery box that I removed the scuttle vent drain well, battery box, and a bit of the bulkhead.
Click to expand...

Looks like Galvinic corrosion.
 
Thanks for the link to the pics, Pat. Do you have any more pics of the mods you made to the box to install it?
 
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