battery tray

My recently purchased 911 Carrera Coupe (1985) has (from the paperwork) a new battery, but it isn't sitting in any kind of a battery tray.... is just one hex head screw going into the floor next to it, & it sits there on the trunk floor without any real tie down.
Anyone out there with a similar model... please let me know what the battery tray should be like, also, does it have any kind of battery retaining device to it? Thanks.

jlex:

I've had my 1983 since new, picked up at the factory, and there was never any "battery box", not any other kind of protective tray or other device.

Since that date, I have added a "battery pad", available at a lot of places, and a top cover for the battery, from a 944. Mostly done for "insurance".

It is not a bad idea to protect your chassis, but apparently Porsche never felt that their cars needed them. How wrong they were, of course, with the chronic problems of the 914 and their corroded battery boxes!......Andras

Andras:
Thanks for the reply. I'm absolutely amazed Porsche would allow the battery to rattle around on the floor without something to at least hold it down.... Isn't there supposed to be at least a hold-down arm that screws into the floor?? What, then, is the purpose of the hex-slotted screw in the floor (about 1/2" away from the battery?)
regards, jlex.

Based on my 1975...

It shouldn't be rattling around! There are three tapped holes at the front end of the battery "platform" for want of a better word.

They represent three (DIN) sizes of battery, and should accept an allen head bolt, which goes over a bracket about 3" long which holds the leading edge of the battery. At the back of the battery it slots under a fixed bracket. The bracket, in profile, is 'S' shaped, sort of like this:
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___/

[No it doesn't (I have given up on the ascii art for now)]

I had this replaced in my car about 3 months ago (it was missing).

Cam


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Cameron Baudinet
1975 911S


[This message has been edited by CamB (edited 07-10-2000).]

[This message has been edited by CamB (edited 07-10-2000).]

I don't think there is anything wrong with the hold down, I think you have the wrong battery. The proper series battery should have molded lugs along the bottom edges of the short sides of the battery (Series 48?). The rear end of the battery slips under an inverted L shape bracked welded to the floor pan, the front end is held down with a bolt and flange that fits over the forward lug of the battery.


Chuck

If you ever wondered what that very long allen wrench in the tool box with the rubber cap, it is to tighten that allen bolt. The prior post was correct and you must have that clamp missing, (look around the front of the car by the jack stand, it may of drifted over there?)

[This message has been edited by 89911 (edited 07-10-2000).]

Thanks, guys.... I'll look around for the missing clamp.... hopefully it hadn't been discarded by the guy who installed the last battery. (Oh, so THAT'S what the allen wrench is for...)
regards, jlex.

jlex:

Wooops, sorry if I have mislead you about the battery. But let me repeat - I said that there was no "battery box or other kind of protective device". I DID NOT SAY THERE WAS NO RESTRAINING BRACKET.

There is a restraining bracket, held down by a screw, as all the previous posts have stated. If you do have the wrong-sized battery, this bracket and screw will not hold down your battery. You non-Porsche-sized battery will be too short.

Please, please, remember that the Porsche is a specialty car, and thus has specialty pieces. If you have replaced the "correct" Porsche battery with an "incorrect"ly sized one, then YOU will have to fabricate a new retsraint. This is not Porsche's fault! Sears has the proper-sized batteries, as does Interstate Batteries. Just get the "right" one, and it will fit, and be held down, per design.

Please, everyone, get to know your car well, and don't assume that Porsche AG would engineer something unsafe or stupid. Maybe we don't know all the facts, which is what this BB is all about......Andras

A word of caution. One of our chapter members had to replace the entire cross member below the trunk on his SC. This cross piece provides the mounting points for the steering components. It rusted/corroded through from a leaky battery above. Our Pre-DE Tech sessions now include a screw driver poke check of this area. If you have evidence of a leaky battery and a corroded trunk, be sure to check the cross brace below for structural integrity.
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Chuck

Thanks again for all the input. I've ordered a battery pad per Andras' advice to minimize corrosion. Looks like my hold down clamp is gone... the battery seems to be the right size so I'll go looking for a replacement clamp (or just make one myself)
Regards,
jlex.