WTB two (2) NOS battery trays for 71 442, p/n406648. Please PM me if you have these available. Looking for the spacers for these as well, if available.

 

Just an FYI to help your search... Part Number 406648 was superceded by 411303 in Jan. 1976...

 

1968-1972 Cutlass 442 Battery Tray New

 

1970 1971 1972 Nos Oldsmobile 442 Battery Tray on 2040-parts.com

 

I do not think
they are selling longer 455 battery trays yet???


There are some thick shims under the factory ones (battery trays)

 

 

Have not heard any good things about repro battery trays. They are the wrong size for the big stock batteries.

 

buy the car
you can have battery and the tray


otherwise

$450 tray plus shims

10000 mile or less car since 1990 restoration

 

 

Awesome thanks all! I still have a little time to look for two battery trays.

On a different note; what is everyone doing to protect the battery trays from battery acid? I completed the restoration on my black car in ~1995 and the battery tray is already rusting away.

 

First thing is to clean and coat it well. The repro trays seem to come with a black finish that is either a super thin paint (maybe e-coat) or maybe even just a black oxide plated finish. People install them "as is" thinking the finish is fine since it's black.

Prep and prime with a good epoxy primer and then spray with a black urethane (flattened to whatever sheen you want).

Year One used to sell a thin mat that is placed under the battery to supposedly nuetralize acid, etc. It's yellow colored so not hidden unless you trim it back I guess (which then might expose part of the tray).

The best bet is a good prep and paint....that will prevent water, etc from getting to the metal. Powder coating should also work. Use Boeshield on the battery tray clamp if you're using one that is phosphated like the originals.

 

Both of the long battery trays I have were shot peened in the vacu blast
Painted on bare substrate with Dupli Color hi temp engine paint

Why is / are your batteries leaking???

 

Thanks Patton! I thought we coated the battery tray in the black car with a good primer and urethane, but still rusted. I am thinking about powder coating the new tray. Hopefully that will prevent the battery acid from penetrating. I'll have to take a look at the pad to neutralize the acid. That sounds like a must have item.

 

It may be from washing the car.....water gets down there via the hood pin holes and edges around the panels and then just sits until it evaporates and/or drains off. I've always wondered if these mats are "soak proof".....if not they could just become a sponge that would HOLD water, etc.

Here is one I found after a quick search...

 

Patton
That may be it
You are washing your car too much...


i only use california duster and spray detailer stuff these days

 

Man I always thought I wasn't washing it enough. That black shows the dirt quick!