electrical and ignition Battery tray and battery wiring questions

[Healey3000]

Hi,

 

My battery tray has obviously seen its share of sulphuric acid over the years.  The rear outboard corner has corroded, leaving an unsupported section of tray near the vertical support.  I can rock the battery a little bit and I worry that it will fatigue and break at some point.  The car is a '74, with a non-removable tray.  Are there simple repair options for this?  I could weld the metal but that has the potential to introduce its own share of problems.  Any other techniques such as removing the tray altogether and mimicking the earlier cars?

 

Secondly, where did the factory connect the battery negative at the block?  Mine goes to a bolt (M8?) approximately just below the carb.  Should it be closer to the starter?  I will be rewiring things a little as I install the smaller starter and an ETX30L battery.  Since the ETX requires M8 eyelets for connectors I will be getting new cables.  Probably will go with cable instead of braid for ground.

 

Thanks for the help.

[Simeon]

I would shape a patch piece out of steel and then pop-rivet it into position. It's not like it's structural. 

 

The distance to the starter motor motor doesn't matter. I would look to keep the cable as short as possible so go for something in the region of the alternator bracket or water pump. Straight across from the battery and then from the same bolt back to the body with another cable of the same size. 

[Healey3000]

Thanks.  Pop-riveting sure beats welding.