weld or rivet?

[asifnyc]

hope this is the right forum for this question...

looking for opinions. I'm mounting my battery in the trunk using this battery tray. I have a mig welder and a hand riveter. If I use rivets I can only put them in across two-thirds of the bottom of the tray before I "hit" the gas tank underneath. If I weld I assume I need to remove the gas tank so I don't blow myself up right? Seems easier to just rivet it but will that be strong enough? maybe removing the gas tank won't be as big a hassle as I'm imagining? I don't have any help so removing the tank would be just me and a jack. I'm not sure how much gas is in it so I'm not sure how heavy it is right now... :question:

http://asifnyc.com/images/battbox1_800.JPG

[Vegas69]

Why not bolt or screw it on. That could be something you want to remove later for various reasons.

[camaro2nv]

Why not bolt or screw it on. That could be something you want to remove later for various reasons.

Good call.

[asifnyc]

I assume you mean bolt/screw through the bottom. If I use bolts the battery would wind up sitting on the bolt heads... I could countersink some sheet metal screws but would that be strong enough? also not excited about a bunch of pointy screw tips on the underside of my trunk (mostly because I assume I'm going to cut myself on them at some point in the future...).

I could weld some threaded rod to the bottom of the battery box and bolt it in that way...

[manny z]

here is an idea that I used on my car. I am using a mount very simlar to yours. I am nt worried about cutting my self, as much as I of having my car have a reall lean look to it.

I took some 3/8" x 1" long stainless button heads, put them through the mount, and the floor of the car. After the holes were done, I cut the heads of the bolts, the mount will not have anything protruding.

On the bottom I used achcorns nuts with some loc-tite so they will not come off.

[JRouche]

Nice looking battery holder. Well, I would weld it. The gas tank isnt right under it is it? If so then how would you through bolt it? And as far as the removability thing goes, you prolly wont remove it unless your are replacing the pan then its some major work anyway.

So why do I like the weld in method? Cause I dont like screws poking down through to the underside. Just my personal thang. But... If you use stainless screws, say 1/4" and blue locktite the nut and zip saw off the extra threads then thats a really clean look too. I wouldnt use rivets, not a good fastener for a heavy battery. It will wiggle while driving. JR

Ooops, just like Manny said. I like his plan too.. :)

[MarkM66]

Removing the gas tank by yourself isn't hard.

[asifnyc]

ok, thanks for all the input. I went with vegas69's suggestion. I took a second look and lucked out. I was able to put 3/8 bolts in each corner of the mount, without the bolt heads interfering with the battery, and I was wrong about the gas tank. I was able to drill through the trunk where I wanted without any clearance issues. done and done.

http://asifnyc.com/images/batt_tray_bolted.JPG

[Bryce]

looks good, exactly what i would have done.