Battery Tray - Aftermarket Fitment Issue

[Killer Bee]

howdy all, not a big thread starter but thought I'd share this little issue I ran into today..

replacing the battery tray in the red 71 longhorn while the inner fender is out from the heater core replacement..

this is the Classic Industries p/n CX1398 [part was tagged ESM-0651] for 67-72 w/o air, standard location..

I loosened the radiator mounting and tilted it back a little not to harm anything but leave enough room to access bolts..

if you're not the careful type, better to remove it so not to bend any fins over.. this four core looks original and pristine so I was careful..

removed the old tray easy enough, came apart in two pieces

placed the new one in there, lined up the top holes and found the inboard lower screw wouldn't grab??

hmm, so crawled underneath to discover the rolled edge of the new tray occluded the mounting surface area so much that it couldn't lay flat..

I can't swear the one that came out was absolutely the original, but sure looked it..

also can't swear there isn't a spacer or something supposed to be in there, but nothing came out with the old one..

I didn't really have time to diddle with it, this was a 'while I'm already there' job anyways, so I cut it down with a 24 grit roloc

fits like a glove, all three holes on inboard edge laid down flat, no stress risers in the bracket, both outboard holes lined up nicely..

I left the raw edge, if you could see what's below there you'd know why

of course a clean job would be to finish the edge with soft paper, prime and paint..

hope this helps, cheers!

rolled edge of aftermarket tray bracket not permitting mounting surface to reach..


that misalignment held the opposite side lower hole off as well..


aftermarket rolled edge not offset close enough to factory to fit without modification..


I cut enough to clear all the way around to eliminate riding or rubbing on core support..


we have clearance clarence

looks like a slight indention where the original may have had a little too much offset as well