1955-1959 underhood battery box upgrade?

[jds319]

Howdy all,

Anybody know of any good upgrades for an underhood battery box for a 1955-1959 Chevrolet/GMC truck? I have a 1956 that I need a new battery box for, but I'm not sold on the "replacement" part. I know they make frame relocation boxes, but I'm not really interested in that. I've seen some people use heavy-duty 4x4 aftermarket parts, but can't seem to find anything that obviously will work.

Help! Thanks y'all!

[OrrieG]

The front and part of the bottom on mine was rusted out. I made a new piece out of 12 GA and welded it to the existing bottom and sides. I have also see one with a 1" angle frame and legs with flat bar for the side diagonal. Once everything is welded up with nice rounded corners and painted they look good.

[jds319]

Man, that is nice. I'm missing the whole box/tray assembly though, so I would need to fabricate everything and don't want to bog down in that right now. (Baby due at the end of the year, and I'm pressing forward as much as possible beforehand.)

[paintman5851]

i built mine,i looked at the replacement ones and just didnt like them

[OrrieG]

If you buy a repop note that 55-57 and 58-59 do not interchange. Early one has different bolt pattern width.

[jds319]

Paintman, I don't suppose you'd be interested in building and selling me one? I drive through your neck of the woods failrly regularly...

[Dan in Pasadena]

Orrie, et al,
Any reason you DIDN'T go to a frame mount drop out type box?
I'm considering doing that to keep the firewall clear but I have been concerned about the length of the ground cable and where to get a long one....probably about 4 ft. long.

[Maximus]

I went with an under-frame box and love how hidden it is... it sits on the outside of the passenger frame rail and sits higher/as high than the pass. step made sure i used a brand new gold-top battery though because its NOT easy to drop - i will most likely make a jump-post somewhere so I can more realistically get juice to the truck if needed.

as for the wire - i was fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to have a junk motorhome on my property that i was able to rob the generator power wire from - its probably 4-gauge wire - heavy duty stranded wire - but I am glad my firewall is free from a battery. I thought about cutting an access hole - sorta like the AD trucks have - but with the seat bolted down it would be useless...

[OrrieG]

I will be using my truck in some pretty cruddy stuff, based on past experience and murphys law being what it is the time I have battery problems is when it is dropped into a mud hole or snow bank. The battery and starter wiring is one thing I do not mind having exposed under the hood and protected from the elements like rocks, logs, etc.

[oldcouple]

I think I have seen stainless steel ones for sale, I coated mine after cleaning with the spray can bed liner, holding up well.

[_Ogre]

behind the pass seat for me

[Dan in Pasadena]

Orrie, Smart thinking. If you're gonna do that kind of drving, then an underneath location wouldn't make any sense for you.

Ogre, Any chance of a couple photos of your install? Hadn't thought of behind the seat; will that work with a taller person? Not that I'm that tall (5'-11") but wondering if you're shorter and that's why it works for you?

Your engine compartment is so clean and nice. Congrats. Did you make that radiator cover? Any details on that?