Battery Hold Down Kit

[Firethorne77]

Anyone have a clue where to get the correct Battery Hold Down Kit for our cars?
Its just something I'd like to get done and have been forgetting to do so.
Thanks:cool:

All I have is the tray. and dont want my battery moving around much.

[texxas8902]

I opened my hood awhile back and my hold down hardware was MIA. I guess it loosened or broke and fell off somewhere.:confused: Fusick makes a reproduction so I bought it. Now I can't get it to fit right. I looked in the 76 service manual under battery installation page 12-27 Fig. 12-38 but didn't get any real help. I think the problem is this Taiwan repro isn't an exact reproduction, close but not perfect. Does anyone have a picture or pictures of their battery install with the original hardware still intact? I have an AC Delco replacement battery that is the same size as the original so I don't think that is the problem. I think I can put the repro in the vise and make it work but pictures of original parts would help before I start the parts butchery. Thanks.:cool:

[brad442]

Guys,

I still have the original on mine. Difference is, batteries from the 70's and 80's had a "top" to them (i guess where you poured the water in) that created a difference in height on each side of the battery retainer. New batteries have a flush top, therefore the retainer bracket is offset a little.

David, swing by this weekend and you can look at my battery to see how close the repro is.

[texxas8902]

Cool Brad. I've been wanting to see your car since you finished it and don't really have an excuse for not doing so. I could walk over if I had to, that's embarrassing. Anyway, I know my original battery isn't exactly the same as the new one but I thought the hold down ran through the area between the filler caps and the outer edges of the battery were the same height. I know my 78 Z/28s came with a Delco Freedom Life (we called them "free from life") when new but I'm not sure if those were around in 76 when my 442 was new. Thanks, I'll call tomorrow.

[ragz442]

I've got the newer style smaller batteries in my cars, they make a plastic filler that snaps on the bottom of the battery, I got a few from the Interstate battery guy. It puts them at the same height as the correct battery so the factory hold down fits right.

[texxas8902]

Hey Ragz how thick is the filler? Do they come in different thicknesses? I don't think that is my problem because my battery height is off by less than 1/2 inch but you never know and the regional Interstate battery warehouse and outlet store is only about 2 miles from my house. I've been a good customer there so I'm sure I could score one for free. I'm going to stop over and check out Brad's car today and compare my Fusick repro mount. Thanks man.

[Revots12]

I use a DieHard in my 77 Cutlass and it fits PERFECT Just FYI
Dave

[ragz442]

Hey Ragz how thick is the filler? Do they come in different thicknesses? I don't think that is my problem because my battery height is off by less than 1/2 inch but you never know and the regional Interstate battery warehouse and outlet store is only about 2 miles from my house. I've been a good customer there so I'm sure I could score one for free. I'm going to stop over and check out Brad's car today and compare my Fusick repro mount. Thanks man.

I'd have to go measure them, but I think they're an inch or better. The batteries I'm using are the same as they use in the newer GM products, they're the right width for the hold down, just shorter and not as long. I'm going to try and get the correct size battery for my '76 project.

[texxas8902]

I went to see Brad's car today and he started it and pulled it out of the garage. Pretty much as close to a new 1977 442 as you will ever see but better. GM didn't make them that nice in the 70s.
The Fusick repro is dead on as far as I can tell. It looked exactly like the one on Brad's car, except it was in a plastic bag marked made in Taiwan. While we were looking at Brad's car he suddenly remembered that he had to put some 1X4 blocks under his battery to make it fit correctly. Since I have the exact same AC Delco battery he does I now know what I'll have to do. Thanks to all who replied.

[djb56]

Hey guys, There is more then 1 type of hold down. Has anybody seen the one that bolts at the bottom of the battery?. I have one on my 91 Cutlass that came from the factory. You can buy them at your local parts store. I have one on my 73-442. Works great. Looks cleaner too. And you don't have to worry about the size of your battery.

[texxas8902]

Hey guys, There is more then 1 type of hold down. Has anybody seen the one that bolts at the bottom of the battery?. I have one on my 91 Cutlass that came from the factory. You can buy them at your local parts store. I have one on my 73-442. Works great. Looks cleaner too. And you don't have to worry about the size of your battery.

Unless you are running the original cold air intake then the short battery sits too low and you can't access the battery terminal because it sits below the molded indention for the terminal. Then you have to remove the cold air duct for battery removal and you can't get or give a jump start with the duct in place either.
I like your solution better because it won't rust out and I have those mounts on other vehicles but the drawbacks mentioned will keep me from going that route. I'm going to make the factory style mount work with spacers, the bonus is it will look correct.

[Firethorne77]

David-
Thanks for reporting on the visit to Brad's car. I gather your'e suggesting that I get the repro parts from Fusick and run a spacer underneath, a 1x4 block, correct?
I plan to use a current gen new A/C Delco battery in the spring, so that should work.
Thank you for taking the time out to check on this subject, I appreciate it and appreciate those who replied. Thanks to Brad for the tip as well. I am sure his car looked awesome in person. Take care

[texxas8902]

Pete, I believe Brad used 2 1X4 blocks under his battery. I haven't made my spacers yet but I'll mess with my car sometime over the holiday when I need to get away from everyone for a little while. The Fusick mount is exactly the same as the original so I'm going with it.