Reply to "Submerged Battery Box"

> Dan I was just looking at the photo of your submerged battery box. I like it!

Was that my battery box (or perhaps another Dan) you're referring to? I put
some pictures up on my website but didn't think I had mentioned it. In any
case, here's a close up shot of my submerged battery box:

http://www.bacomatic.org/gallery/album03/Submerged_Battery_Box

The box is from Marino Perna at Patneras East and is stainless steel (comes
with a SS lid that's not pictured). It's about as large as will fit within
the constraints and just fits an Optima battery. I had a helper and drilled
several pilot holes to tell where I was before attacking it with the Sawzall.
Even then, I cut the hole small and then trimmed it to size. Since the
positive cable runs the length of the car, I had to make the hole in the box
rectangular to allow the post end to slide through. That worked out well as
the cable needs to be pushed back into the recess to allow the battery to
slide into place. I didn't have any clearance issues with the clutch slave
but I did have to open up the hole the lines go through and bend the clutch
and brake lines for clearance. I also had to put a notch in lower right hand
corner for clearance at the steering rack mount. The box was welded into
place on three sides with screws on the fourth side. I didn't want to risk
welding the forth side in place as there was some flammable material nearby
in the passenger compartment. A rectangular hole at the top of passenger side
footwell had to be cut to route the positive cable. I have the negative cable
grounded to a steering rack bolt but may may rethink that later. The area
will be smoothed and filled with brushable seam filler and the entire trunk
area repainted. Haven't decided yet on carpeting or felt yet.

Here's a shot of the front trunk compartment stripped to bare metal prior to
painting. The brake booster is removed, submerged battery box is intalled and
brackets for the 3 point brace are welded-in. The front bracket is welded on
the outside so only the three bolt holes are visible:

http://www.bacomatic.org/gallery/album03/Front_Trunk_Stripped_1

Another shot of the front trunk stripped to bare metal. The clutch master,
submerged stainless steel battery box, and one of the 3 point brace mounts
are visible:

http://www.bacomatic.org/gallery/album03/Trunk_Stripped_2

Some other pictures of recent work:

http://www.bacomatic.org/gallery/album03/Pantera_Roller_Driver_s_Side
http://www.bacomatic.org/gallery/album03/Pantera_Roller_Passenger_Side

Driver's side shot showing interior stripped to bare metal prior to painting.
Also shows lowered floor pans for increased headroom:

http://www.bacomatic.org/gallery/album03/Driver_s_Side_Stripped_1

Passenger side shot showing the drop floor pans installed and the floor
stripped for painting:

http://www.bacomatic.org/gallery/album03/Passenger_Side_Stripped_1

Painted engine compartment. Engine, transaxle, gas tank, A/C, coolant bottles,
et. al. have been removed:

http://www.bacomatic.org/gallery/album03/Painted_Engine_Compartment_Bare

Blurry shot of some parts after painting. Three of the chassis braces are
visible as are the coolant tubes and bottles, the radiator screen, the old
removable crossmember, a splash shield, motor mount stands, engine pulleys,
alternator brackets, gas tank neck, and some interior bits (including the
original bulkhead cover):

http://www.bacomatic.org/gallery/album03/Pantera_Parts_2

Now if I can only remember how to put it all back together :-)

Dan Jones