VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1912-1928 Battery tray wood spacers

Hello everybody,
I am going to order a new battery tray for my '24 touring and saw a listing in The Filling Station for "battery tray wood spacer". Is this a necessary item and how many will I need? Also, just how are these wood spacers installed on the battery tray? Thanks,

Mike

It is suggested that you use the wood spacers, provided all other nearby components are original or made to original. For starters, (pun intended) you must have the correct type battery carrier, you must have the original size battery, and then you install the two wooden spacers that completes the installation.

The correct assembly is very obvious as you assemble the above components. You will end up with the spacers placed one on each end of the battery. When the long rods are tightened, you will have a safe and correct installation.

Thanks Ray,
Do you have the dimensions of the original battery or know of a correct modern replacement to be used in its place? If so, where can I get such a battery? The guy at Advance Auto said he has a 6 volt battery with offset terminals but I didn't get to see it and have no idea of its dimensions.

Mike

My car is not here right now.

Search on the internet for antique batteries. They are pretty much labeled and you can obtain the desired information.

If you don't find an answer, come on back and I will go to another car.

I did find the battery and its dimensions at Antique Auto Battery. Thanks for the help.

That's good. Now subtract the width of the battery from the width of the battery carrier and you will know the with of the wood spacers to fill the total width. The spacers go one on each side and the two long threaded rods will go through the holes in the spacers.

I have them in my 28 Convertible Sport Cabriolet and they fit and make the installation perfect.

Have fun,

Reproduction wood spacers are available from the Filling Station. They are made to duplicate the thickness of those factory installed on 1931 and later Chevys. They may be a little thicker than necessary for a '28. I have used two on a '28 with original battery box and current replacement 6 volt battery. It is a snug fit but works.

Now that you mention "the two long threaded rods", would either of the rods from The Filling Station - page 285, item #AF-15 or #FS-8971 - look like they might work for this install?

The wood spacers - page 285, item #AF-511 - look pretty simple but I would be willing to buy those instead of trying to replicate them just for convenience sake.

The battery tray itself is not shown but is listed - page 284, item #AF-508. Has anyone had any experience with this particular battery tray, such as, a good reproduction or something I should avoid spending money on?

Mike

As the manufacturer of the wood spacers they surely look simple but are not that easy to make. They require 5-7 steps (depending what wood stock is used) with four different machines (two saws, router and drill press) to make. I also had an original example so I could make them to "factory" dimensions.

Are you saying that you actually make the wood spacers sold by The Filling Station? Cool! And yes, that sounds like a pain to make myself when I can just purchase them cheaply enough. Thanks.

Years ago, before the Filling Station had the battery clamp wood spacers, I made two of them from an original new old stock battery clamp wood spacer. Originally, only one was required because of the size of the battery that was used back in the early 1930's. However, I had to make two spacers (one for each side of the battery) because the modern battery was not as wide as the original battery so two wood spacers were required.

Most people don't know that the wood spacers were originally installed as they were discarded or rotted away. I was one of them until I purchased a '31 Chevy with ~5000 miles that still had one.

I agree! I didn't know that a battery clamp wood spacer was used either until I read the parts book (which I do quite often) and I found that the spacer was listed in the parts book. I did some research to find out what the spacer looked like and then I found a new old stock wood spacer, which I used as sample for making a left and a right for the battery that I was using.

Anyone care to post a photo of the spacer? I did not realize they were "factory" either so I fabricated a couple from a rubber truck flap.

I would also like to see a good photo of the spacers properly installed, if anyone can provide one. I do appreciate all the information given here.

Mike