Battery floor ribs

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Brett Johnson
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Battery floor ribs

#1 Post by Brett Johnson »

The first battery floors had six narrow strengthening ribs. By December 1951 this floor was replaced with one that had six wider ribs with ribs 2 and 5 shorter due to the presence of the horn pockets.

By August 1953 the ribs were equal length (285 mm) spaced 45 mm from the rear wall and not traveling up the front nearly as far. This style was used through the end of 356 production

Questions:

1) Any information about earlier use of the wider rib floor?

2) Can anyone with either of the first two types measure the ribs and spacing from the rear wall?

3) Any information about earlier use of the later type equal length rib floors?
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The second type of floor with unequal length wide ribs
The second type of floor with unequal length wide ribs
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Greg Newton
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Re: Battery floor ribs

#2 Post by Greg Newton »

Battery floor ribs on the above picture are spaced 40 mm from the Battery Floor panel rear edge. (40-45mm from the rear wall panels)

Measuring in from the sides of the Battery Floor panel edge to the centreline of each rib profile, Ribs 1 and 6 are 75mm in, Ribs 2 and 5 (shorter) are 175mm in and Ribs 3 and 4 are 275mm in from each side edge.

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Re: Battery floor ribs

#3 Post by Brett Johnson »

This is stellar information -- I wanted to know the length of the two different sized ribs -- though the width spacing is an unasked for bonus!

Still want the length...
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Re: Battery floor ribs

#4 Post by Greg Newton »

Ok,

Ribs number 1, 3, 4 and 6 are 325 mm in total length.

Ribs 2 and 5 are 300 mm in total length.

The wide flat rib profile is 32 mm wide at external folds and 23 mm wide at internal Folds, the depth is 4 mm.

The seven thin ribbed profile of the earlier cars are of equal length at 325 mm long. The external folds of each individual thin rib is 15 mm wide, they have a continuous radius, therefore no internal folds, the depth is also 4 mm. (same profile as used on early engine firewalls and luggage floor compartment)
One rib in the centre, they are spaced equally with 100 mm centre lines.

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Re: Battery floor ribs

#5 Post by Brett Johnson »

Outstanding information Greg. Are there round drains on the earlier floor and/or area behind, just ahead of the floor pan, as on the later ones? I'm thinking probably not...
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Jeroen van der Velden
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Re: Battery floor ribs

#6 Post by Jeroen van der Velden »

My cabriolet 60280 production date 5 nov. 1953 had also the two shorter ribs ( rib 2 and 5)
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Re: Battery floor ribs

#7 Post by Jeroen van der Velden »

Coupe 52486 (prod date 8/54) original battery floor with short ribs 2 and 5
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Re: Battery floor ribs

#8 Post by Jeroen van der Velden »

Coupe 11412 (prod date 24may 1952) long ribs 325mm short ribs 300mm and 45mm from rear wall
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Re: Battery floor ribs

#9 Post by Brett Johnson »

I have the change between long/short and equal length ribs between 1/53 and 3/53.
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Re: Battery floor ribs

#10 Post by Joe Ruiz »

The battery floor on my Dec. 1950 coupe has 8 narrow ribs with horn pockets.
Last edited by Joe Ruiz on Sun Jun 16, 2019 6:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Battery floor ribs

#11 Post by Brett Johnson »

Any chance you can take a photo? This is 5033. I didn't have the presence of mind to count or measure the ribs -- it was a long time ago. Priorities change.

It looks like there are six ribs with no central one, possibly due to the vent.
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Re: Battery floor ribs

#12 Post by Brett Johnson »

Oh, here's another angle of unrestored 5033. It does show the central rib, so there are seven as Greg has previously commented about. I'm a little skeptical about 8. Anybody else?
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Re: Battery floor ribs

#13 Post by Brett Johnson »

I am less comfortable with the second generation floor information. I have information on an August 1953 car that is undeniably original that has equal length ribs. I also have a photo of a NOS Porsche piece that has the same -- attached. The photo of the unrestored March 1953 car looks identical. I'm perplexed that cars with earlier pieces are intermixed -- especially so far apart in build dates.
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Re: Battery floor ribs

#14 Post by Spencer Harris »

#60238, 8/17/53 - before & after.
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Re: Battery floor ribs

#15 Post by Greg Newton »

Right hand side battery cars had seven thin ribbed battery floors and were attached to a single longer gusset that is spot welded to the inside of the rear wall circle panels and spot welded to the floor 235 mm in from the right-hand side edge of the floor panel.
The single long gusset continued to be spot welded to the battery floor when it changed to the wide rib second version which has six uneven ribs. This point also marks the beginning of the two circle drains, one on the bottom of the battery floor and another further back in the chassis bottom closing panel.
Circle drains started their centred positions at 100 mm from the rear edge of each panel.
When the battery is moved to the centre of the car, two equal and opposing gussets are welded to the inside of the battery rear wall circle panels, now at 235 millimetres in from each side and the circle drain on the battery floor is moved from 100 mm from the back edge of the panel to the centre of the battery floor. Also at this point the right-angled bracket to stop the battery from sliding forward is also spot welded into position.
Later, the uneven ribs at the front of the second-generation battery floor is changed to all even ribs which would then continue to the end of Pre-a all staying the same.

I think the only question we still need to answer is,

(when was the last uneven wide rib factory floor placed in a car.)

I believe the car was built somewhere in 1953, so if everyone with a 53-model car could take a look under the front and you have an original battery floor you may just have the answer. It doesn’t matter how rusty it is, as the part we are talking about is the last bit of the battery floor to ever rust away.

If anyone has something different to add, please do.

If you’re not sure what you have, take a well illuminated photo just like the one at top of this topic and we can all help.

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