I just wanted to post this out here for everyone to see. My 53 M38A1 was missing the battery box and brackets, leaving me pretty clueless as what needed to be there.
I just wanted say thanks to everyone for helping out. Thank to Wes and his great pictures, I was able to create a battery box that I did not have, from scratch. My local hardware store (Lowes), carried sheet metal in various sizes and gauges. I bought some take off brackets and "J" hooks from George at AJP and a box bottom from Pete Debella. I did have to test fit this box a few times and do a little trimming on the top so that it would fit level and square and so that I could spot weld it around the top. Thanks again Wes.
I'm going to try to attach some pics but if it doesn't work, I have them in my photo album on the yahoo group site under "Lee's 53 M38A1".
I need to completely rebuild mine as well but lack the welding and metal working expiriance or tools. Anyone know of anybody who sells them pre fabbed? Already got the bottom from MWM and checked the other major sellers.
Chris,
I had no luck finding a box anywhere and I didn't even have one to replicate. Thanks to Wes, for sending me a set of pictures with dimensions, I was able to fabricate one of my own. I had no experience in doing this type of work. The wall for my shop door, a couple of short 2x4's, a couple of C-clamps, 4" grinder with a cut-off wheel, and a good welding machine and a couple of hours. Oh, a little rustoleum paint and some OD Green from Gillespie....and wallah.
Lee looks like I will be following your footsteps and giving it a try, Classic Enterprises dosen't make them at the moment, we'll see how it turns out!
I called midwest jeeps, they are getting tooling ready to start building battery boxes. that doesnt help me at the moment, does anyone have the specs so that i can try and build my own box.
thanks, randy
Brachus give them a call and tell them you need one they might even expedite the process. they said they sent the specs to the their welding shop but could not give me a date when they will be ready. Definitely holding me up, ready to build my own.
Looks like I kept most of it in my email. I didn't write down the gauge but I think it was 26 and is plenty strong. I have 12 pics which are of old torn out boxes and 2 hand drawings that have measurements. Once I combined all of these print out together, I sketched on the metal as I would check the measurements with what would fit with the new box bottom and brackets I purchased before committing any drilling, cutting or welding. It really wasn't hard to make and only cost me about $20 in sheet metal and a few hours of actual work...plus about 6 hours of studying the drawings. lol. I am a very detailed kind of person. The toughest part for me was that I had nothing physical in front of me to look at before starting but a hole with a cover.
Send me an email if you want the pics. I'll try to post them on the yahoo group site later (m38-m38a1-m606).
Nice work, you have accomplished something you weren't sure you could do. Just having the "will" to do something is half of the task and it gets easier from there. If you think you can do it, don't give up.
