Optima mounting plate question

[Tut]

I've read the threads regarding the fabrication of a mounting plate for an Optima out of a synthetic cutting board. My question concerns what people have done at the end of the mount toward the back of the car, where the battery/mounting plate slips under the lip that is there. I don't believe that the Optima has a lip at the end of the battery, although I may be wrong. Have people doubled the thickness of the mount at that area so that the mount is wedged under the lip?

Thanks.

[dipso]

I just put in an Optima.
I used a universal battery tray and hold down clamps from Pep Boys.
I had to do a little fabrication on it where it slids under the lip in the rear as well as in the front where the original hold down clip fits. I think just some notching.
It was easy.

[Jadams1]

A thicker cutting board would be better. I have the same problem, the cutting board does not fit as tight as I would like in the rear cleat as shown. Has anyone come up with a good soultion?

[Mitch Leland]

Tur,

If I have you question right, the cutting base board fits under the lip, the battery is bolted to the base board. If you wanted a tighter fit under the lip with your base board I assume you could thicken that end by attaching a strip of the same material to the base board. However when I did mine the base board is pushed into the lip so it really can't go anywhere anyway...

Here's a pix of the forward end, I used a S.S. bolt and I also ran the router over the top edge, maybe that will make my car go faster...

[gtc]

How thick is your cutting board? I had to try several different stores before I found a board that was both long and thick enough.
Mine is 5/16" if I recall, and fits snugly under the tabs.

[cdrik915]

Specially builded for Optimas

[Tut]

Mitch,

That's what I thought I would do.

gtc,

5/16th is the recommended thickness, per previous posts.

[euro911sc]

I just have an AL plate in there... might be 3/16 ths at most. I have no problems with tightnes of fit.

Best regards,

Michael

[911pcars]

Does anyone else feel a little uncomfortable with the hold down bracket right next to the battery posts?



My mounting bracket runs a similar path across the posts. I slide pvc tubing over the metal to provide an insulation barrier to prevent future fireworks.



Sherwood

[Mitch Leland]

I bought my cutting/base board from Target, it was 9.5"X 15", cost $7.99. The Optima battery that I used was P/N 999 35/75. Hopefully this is the Optima P/N and not the P/N from Carquest parts.

The above Optima battery had 4 mounting locations on the bottom of the battery so there was no need for a hold down strap. Maybe this battery is not sold any more? I pretty much copied Ed Hugh's Tech Article.

It's a great modification, no more chance of battery acid leakage...