Clamping Down On Power

 

This is really just a quick one task update…. However it has been a full days work to fabricate and fit. I want to fit the battery for the Spyder in the boot. This will help balance the car a little and add some much needed weight on the transverse rear spring, helping with the wheel camber. 

My idea for the battery tray/clamp is just a simple fabrication made from some 25mm angled steel. I firstly just measured up the battery and gave a little extra for potential future replacements being slightly different base size, then made up three sides cut on a 45degree to keep it nice and square. Then I welded an off cut of some flat bar towards the front for strength and rigidity before moving onto the clamp. 

The front section is cut so that it will slide in and out of the side angles and can be torqued up using some M8 bolts through the front onto some retaining nuts welded onto each side section. 

Then with the basic frame made I added some bits of round bar on the front length and back to act as the clamp against the base of the battery. It has all worked out exceptionally well really and when tightened up it really gets a good grip on the battery nice and tight. I tarted it all up with some black paint to keep it all looking nice then moved onto the boot floor and making a suitable fixing position. 

The boot floor is literally just fiberglass which is strong and solid but does/will have some flex to it when rolling down the road. I wanted to beef everything up and give a good solid base for the battery clamp. I simply used a bit of flat bar steel which has been drilled through to two supporting brackets under the body tub which are fixed directly onto the end of each chassis leg. The I removed the battery and welded the battery tray to the supporting bar on the boot floor. 

A quick test fit of everything to check clearances etc… then I did a final fit with a good used of some PU bond on the bottom support bar and the battery clamp flat bar. This will help further holding it all down, and also help absorbing any vibrations that could be irritating when driving. 

Overall it’s all really good and strong and holds the battery solid as a rock… which is exactly what I wanted. 

 So yes only a small update, but a full days work and another job ticked off the list.