Battery box bowl - welding?

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James Fitzsimons
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Battery box bowl - welding?

#1 Post by James Fitzsimons »

Hi all,

My car is at the paint shop and they are finally making a start - woohoo!

However, as we get into it we've come across a few minor things that were overlooked at the end of the metalwork phase. One of these things is the refitting of the non-steering box side battery box bowl (hatch cover). Here is a picture of what I am talking about to avoid confusion:
644-504-521-10-pic1-stoddard-harry-szabrak_copy.jpg
644-504-521-10-pic1-stoddard-harry-szabrak_copy.jpg (32.08 KiB) Viewed 1047 times
Which on my car (RHD) goes here:
batterybox.gif
My question is - on the non- steering box side how is this welded in? The whole battery box has been replaced with new panels so I'm not sure what the original approach to welding this in was, and where possible I'd like to replicate the factory approach.

Cheers,
James Fitzsimons
James Fitzsimons
1957 356A Coupe (RHD)

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Mike Wilson
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Re: Battery box bowl - welding?

#2 Post by Mike Wilson »

I think both covers were attached with cheese head screws.

Mike
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'63 B coupe

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Jim Clement
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Re: Battery box bowl - welding?

#3 Post by Jim Clement »

only the steering side is screwed in.
the non steering side is welded..
trying to find some pictures of the specific type of welds, I believe they are typical spot welds around the perimeter.
 

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Vic Skirmants
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Re: Battery box bowl - welding?

#4 Post by Vic Skirmants »

The Carreras had removable passenger-side covers; to get to the fuel pumps.
And since the early T-1s were built with several Carrera-specific fittings in the engine compartment, I would think they also had removable passenger-side covers. T-1 owners; report please.

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Harlan Halsey
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Re: Battery box bowl - welding?

#5 Post by Harlan Halsey »

Vic,
My '56 (T1) has a removable steel passenger side cover. The driver's side is welded in. (My '59 GT Carrera has both covers removable and made of aluminum.)
The informed opinion to which I am privy suggests that, surprise, the factory was rather inconsistent here. Were it my car, I'd just screw it in and be done with it.
Harlan

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Al Zim
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Re: Battery box bowl - welding?

#6 Post by Al Zim »

My car 100867 which I think left the factory on 7 June 1957. Has the right cover attached with 4 screws. The left cover is welded in place which makes it difficult to install the ZF steering box update. From the beginning of the 100XXX coupes there were running updates on the cars. I do not think the factory documented these updates. al zim
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Mike Wilson
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Re: Battery box bowl - welding?

#7 Post by Mike Wilson »

I checked a '56 coupe yesterday. Left side welded in; right side screwed in place.

mike
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Jim Clement
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Re: Battery box bowl - welding?

#8 Post by Jim Clement »

assuming these are all left hand drive cars ?
mine for sure is screwed on the drivers side (left) vin 59021
I assumed this is for access to the steering box.. I did change mine out and was thankful that it was removable.
wide variability for sure..
 

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James Fitzsimons
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Re: Battery box bowl - welding?

#9 Post by James Fitzsimons »

Thanks to those that have replied.

I dug through all my disassembly photos again, and while I don't have a good one of this exact area, I have this one which seems to show that the LHS (passenger side on my car) was screwed in.
battery_box.jpg
My car is a 57 T1/T2 cross over, and it seems likely that prior to the metal work I've just done this area was original or close to it. Therefore, I think I'll just go with screwing both sides.

Cheers
James Fitzsimons
1957 356A Coupe (RHD)

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Trevor Gates
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Re: Battery box bowl - welding?

#10 Post by Trevor Gates »

James - My car is a very late T1, 10164Three, both sides used screws, no welding. 101943 was the last T1 according to documents I’ve read.

When you had your battery box replaced, did they also replace the panel that has the VIN stamped in it? The panel below to the front of the gas tank floor. On mine, the steering box coupler access hole has a provision for the ZF steering box to be used. The lip around the opening has been folded over. Does yours? Just curious.
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James Fitzsimons
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Re: Battery box bowl - welding?

#11 Post by James Fitzsimons »

Hi Trevor,

Apologies for the late reply, my car is in the paint shop and I was hoping to get in last weekend and check this but wasn't able to. I'm 99% sure my car does have the lip folded over. I'm pretty certain that panel wasn't replaced or modified during the rebuild. I'm planning to get in to see the car on Saturday so will try and check and maybe get a photo then.

Cheers
James Fitzsimons
1957 356A Coupe (RHD)

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