Restoration Battery fit into 63 Tray

[Stuart F.]

I have a new Restoration Battery and am having trouble getting it to fit into the tray of my 63 convert. I have changed batteries a number of times over the years since the car was new, and never found it easy, but always doable with a little wrestling. I have replaced the tray many years ago when I went to dry batteries and it is still good. Dimensionally, the battery is only 1/8" less in over all length and width, and almost the same clearance under the Surge tank mounting boss on the fender panel. I just can't get it in. It is way too tight.

Anyone else had this problem? Any suggestions?

Stu Fox

[Norm B.]

Re: Restoration Battery fit into 63 Tray

Hi Stewart

Do you have the battery sitting on the tray or have you not been able to get it down there at all? All I can suggest is from what I remember when I used to take the battery out every Fall for Winter storage. To reinstall it I would tie the tank out of the way with a long piece of twine between it and the alternator bracket. Wearing gloves I would tip the battery on its end and slide it down onto the tray. I used my left thumb and forefinger around the top post to control it on the way down. There was just enough room to turn it upright once the end touched the tray. It was tight to get it to sit down on the tray and under the bracket for the bands for the tank but with a little wiggling it would go in place. The gloves are essential to protect the back of your hands. I often wondered what kind of mess this made before the days of the "Sealed" battery.

Couple of things I ran in to over the years;
1. One year I was changing from a shorter battery back to the OEM style. I forgot that I had a spacer under the shorter battery and had left it on the tray. In a dark garage I did not notice it until about the 4th try to get the battery in place.
2. Another time I had the battery sitting on the tray but it would not drop down into place. It took a few minutes before I noticed one of the cables had slipped down underneath it.
3. Finally, cables again, this time the cable was jammed behind it so it would not go back to where it should be.
These are all simple things but in a dark garage, in the cold, with no one to hold a light it is so easy to overlook them.

Other than the above I really have no suggestions. I can't even remember what bad words were the most effective for this procedure.

Good luck,
Norm

[Joe R.]

Re: Restoration Battery fit into 63 Tray

Stew,

The Restoration Batteries are the same standard size as the original and have not changed from that spec thru the years.
Look to the battery tray being bent when the old battery was removed. I have some old 959 batteries and can get the spec from those if you need the specifications from the 60's. The 959 batteries are taller but the bottom is the same.

JR

[Stuart F.]

Re: Restoration Battery fit into 63 Tray

Norm and Joe, thanks for the responses. Still trying by bending tray sides out and a little grease on the sides.

Stu Fox

[Frank D.]

Re: Restoration Battery fit into 63 Tray

At the prices of those batteries they should fit problem-free.
Let us know what you find..

[Stuart F.]

Re: Restoration Battery fit into 63 Tray

Frank, The possible variables are that I have a replacement tray (it's been so long since I put it in, I don't recall if it was repro or nos. I'll have to check my receipts), and second is the bracket molded into the inner fender panel. Being in fiberglass, there could be some tolerance variation. All I know, it is really a tight fit. When installed, the tank looks to be positioned right. Will post the outcome.

Stu Fox

[Stuart F.]

Re: Restoration Battery fit into 63 Tray

The job is complete and the car is up and running. What I had to do to get the battery to fit in the tray was spread the sides and ends of the tray using a small vice grips to bend the metal slightly outward where ever I could to give the tray sort of a tapered fit. The battery case is just slightly bigger than my previous one (1/16" in each dimension, I.e. Sides and ends). I suspect the molds for he case have worn. At any rate, it is just bigger enough to cause a very tight fit. Then, I got my Corvette owning son to drop it in for me.

p.s. Car had been sitting for almost a year so it had some issues besides to get it back on the road.

Stu Fox

[Harry S.]

Re: Restoration Battery fit into 63 Tray

Stu, I had to do the same alteration on my 63 for the Restoration battery.

[John D.]

Re: Restoration Battery fit into 63 Tray

Here's weak and old JD's solution Stu. I get my weight lifting son to install the battery like it weighed a few ounces.
I also tie the surge tank to the oil filler tube. John