Rust under battery tray

[KevinB]

Hey guys when I pulled my battery and tray out to prep for the engine swap I noticed a couple of ping pong ball sized holed under the battery tray. I can't seem to find a repo panel anywhere.

I'm gonna be relocating my battery eventually anyway, but have any of you repaired that spot before? It's a fairly weird shape with some angular bends and a curved bend. Thanks

 

[70DartMike]

Take a picture of the rotted area and someone will be able to cut out a rust free patch for you.

 

[KevinB]

Here's a couple of pics of the area. Since I'm relocating the battery I'm not too concerned with having the new piece be a perfect match….I'm even thinking about replacing it with just a bent piece of sheet metal. I was hoping to see if anyone else has had this problem and if so what did you do to fix it. thanks

 

[gdrill]

Myself, I would cut it out, make and weld in a patch. Especially since you are relocating the battery.

 

[cudascott]

Looks like some sand blasting is in order! Then cut out the rust and replace the sheet metal.
Some square flat patches will do the trick or as stated someone could cut out the piece you need from a parts car. You may get by with wire brushing the area as clean as possible weld in some patches then coat with POR 15

 

[KevinB]

Looks like some sand blasting is in order! Then cut out the rust and replace the sheet metal.
Some square flat patches will do the trick or as stated someone could cut out the piece you need from a parts car. You may get by with wire brushing the area as clean as possible weld in some patches then coat with POR 15

Ha I wish I could sandblast it! My wife and neighbors would kill me. I'll be wire brushing the entire engine bay and underside of the car to prep it for POR/paint


Cutting out some patches was my original idea, but was hoping to see some work don by others too

 

[BillGrissom]

Wherever you put the new battery, put a Battery Mat (ebay) under it to neutralize any acid overflows. Unless you buy a gel battery like Optima or Autozone's brand.

 

[barbee6043]

cut out the rust, fab a patch, weld it in like it should be, and finish it??????

 

[4spdcuda66]

I made a pattern out of water color paper, then transferred that to some sheet metal stock. I put a piece of pipe in the vice to bend the contour after I cut the metal to shape. Try to use a pipe with the same diameter as the radius you need for your bend. After that, tack it and weld it. A little filler blends it right in. My battery is going right back here, so I'll have to hole punch it for the bolt, plus my work will be forever hidden beneath the battery. I didn't bother finishing the back side because it's in a non-visible area and will be covered with undercoating anyway.

 

[4spdcuda66]

I didn't take a "before" picture, but there was a significant rust hole under the tray.

 

[tarvin890]

I made a pattern out of water color paper, then transferred that to some sheet metal stock. I put a piece of pipe in the vice to bend the contour after I cut the metal to shape. Try to use a pipe with the same diameter as the radius you need for your bend. After that, tack it and weld it. A little filler blends it right in. My battery is going right back here, so I'll have to hole punch it for the bolt, plus my work will be forever hidden beneath the battery. I didn't bother finishing the back side because it's in a non-visible area and will be covered with undercoating anyway.

well done!

 

[GeorgeH]

I made a pattern out of water color paper, then transferred that to some sheet metal stock. I put a piece of pipe in the vice to bend the contour after I cut the metal to shape. Try to use a pipe with the same diameter as the radius you need for your bend. After that, tack it and weld it. A little filler blends it right in. My battery is going right back here, so I'll have to hole punch it for the bolt, plus my work will be forever hidden beneath the battery. I didn't bother finishing the back side because it's in a non-visible area and will be covered with undercoating anyway.

There ya go.

 

[barbee6043]

good job!! that's wasn't so hard, was it! the amount of satisfaction of YOU accomplishing that job is way bigger than the task!????