Hi,

I had to cut out my battery tray on my 280zx and I'm thinking about just using some square tubing and angle to create a new one What is everyone else doing?

 

Relocate to the back! Get some heavy gauge wire, and sealed battery, never worry about battery tray again

 

For my '86na, I scavenged one cheap from a junker at my recycler's yard, stripped and painted it. Cool because the orig stabilizer strap and bolts all fit perfect. Check out http://www.car-part.com/ for trays and ZX years.

If you can hide the batt in the back, Skully's idea is good. I had no space back there. I guess I would have taken the old tray to a sheet metal guy (HVAC ducts, etc.) along with some stainless steel sheet (Home Depot?) and paid for a custom fab tray to fit. Install using old straps and bolts and maybe some SS screws. Appearance isn't that big a deal under the hood... but you definitely want the battery locked down tight and not moving at all.

 

I don't like the idea of moving it to the back. It doesn't need it for weight distribution and it adds a lot of wire weight.

Funny you mention about it being strapped down. I first bought the car in 94 or so when I was 15 and the battery was held down by an exposed wire. It caught fire when it eventually touched. Now I know to look for that kind of thing.

Anyone else? I'm still leaning towards making a simple frame and getting a bolting a universal plastic battery tray to it.