Battery hold down brackets

[JDM VANMAN]

Today I went to Rick’s shop to make the hold down bars, we were able to make 12- 1”x 1” x 11” bars which will work well with group 24 and group 25 batteries, I remember someone was saying something about a larger battery so I also made 6- 1”x 1” x 12” bars in hopes to accommodate that need.


Here’s a little something for Rick for taking his time Sunday afternoon to help with the project.





Setting up the saw guide to 11” inches and cutting 2 at a time-






Putting the bar on the edge and using the OEM bar as a template to trace where the holes are going to be drilled out for the J-Hooks






Using a metal punch and hammer to punch a guide hole in the center of the hole that was traced-





Using the drill press to make the hole and adding some oil.






Cleaning up the rough edges where the holes were drilled. I didn’t file the other edges where the bars were cut to length.





11” & 12” bars











J-Hooks dropped into the bar-





The Hold Down Brackets are $8 plus shipping, PM with email address if your interested, will accept PayPal.


JDM

[trestlehed]

JDM VANMAN,

Can you post a pic of the new hold-down doing it's thing on a battery?

Thanks!

[JDM VANMAN]

Yes your right I should do that!!

I’ll post it up on Sunday thank you

JDM

[JDM VANMAN]

Went to O’Rielly’s and picked up some new 10” j-hooks, I suppose the 8” ones will work too if you hook them directly below the same side the bracket is on but I went again at an angle below the battery terminal posts, the 10” hooks were too long for the battery I have installed.



Bracket installed and secured-





It’s a tight fit in there and now I’m using the wing nuts that came with the kit, in order to tighten them down I tipped the battery away from me and tightened the wing nuts and positioned the battery perfectly. Maybe the 8” j-hooks would have worked better going straight down-





OEM Hold Down Bracket comparison to JDM’s version of a Hold Down Bracket


OEM Bracket is 11” long and made of 8-10 gauge steel, over time this bracket has bent because the a Group 25 battery is shorter in width then the Group 24 battery, after tighten it down the bracket had bent at the J-Hook holes. The JDM Bracket is 11” long and made of 20 gauge steel. Should last for another 60 years!! Just needs some finishing ie: steel wool and paint.
















Hope that helps!!


JDM

[bigtone23]

I'm probably going to paint the bracket when I paint the rusty hub covers I found a couple weeks ago.
Would you recommend rubberizing or using a rubber gasket on the bracket?

[trestlehed]

I'm probably going to paint the bracket when I paint the rusty hub covers I found a couple weeks ago.
Would you recommend rubberizing or using a rubber gasket on the bracket?

Hmmm, I'm thinking dipping it a few times in that "Flex Seal" liquid rubber stuff might be the ticket.

[trestlehed]

Hope that helps!!


JDM

Thanks JDM!

I'm gonna have to measure my battery. I think I have one of those big group 24 jobs.

[JDM VANMAN]

Thanks JDM!

I'm gonna have to measure my battery. I think I have one of those big group 24 jobs.

Have a look at the orginal thread that started this project-

https://www.toyotavantech.com/forum/...7976#post37976

Posting Number 5 has a chart with measurements that’ll give you a guideline.

JDM

[bigtone23]

Installed my bracket today!
I got 10" J hooks, but cut them down to 9" to fit perfectly on my 75/86 group battery on a 1" riser.

[JDM VANMAN]

Installed my bracket today!
I got 10" J hooks, but cut them down to 9" to fit perfectly on my 75/86 group battery on a 1" riser.

VERY NICE!!

Thank you for the update

JDM

[bigtone23]

Well, in the spirit of constant tinkering, I ended up cutting down the J hooks to 8" and used the adjacent hook holes in the pan. This way the J hooks aren't at a steeper angle, the hold down is pulled with more downward pressure and the thumb screws are more flat to tighten.