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  1. #1
    FEP Senior Member
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    Default Proper Battery Hold Down

    So as I was doing some work under the hood of my '85 LTD I noticed that the battery hold down was missing. The previous owner had the battery replaced among other things recently I suspect when the shop did the work they either forgot or misplaced the hold down. I thought it would be swell to actually have one. I did some searching around, but I don't know what the actual part is supposed to look like. Is it the same as a Mustang for the same year? I found this thing:
    http://www.cjponyparts.com/battery-h...SABEgLYYvD_BwE

    Is this the right part?

  2. #2
    FEP Super Member gr79's Avatar
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    Default

    Cant say what was in there
    NPD sells both metal and plastic types
    https://www.npdlink.com/store/catalo...ts-6206-2.html

    I use the plastic style with ss hardware so the battery will come out years later.
    Also fitted a different battery tray to hold the newer Ford 40/96 group battery.
    Many a hold down got trashed because of that frozen bolt/nut/whatever.

  3. #3
    FEP Senior Member
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    Thank you for the reply. It seems like everybody specs the plastic piece for '87+ applications. I'm open to using either one as long as it fits properly. I'm not looking for 100% concourse correct, but I do want the properly functioning part in there that isn't some universal fits all makes and models part.

  4. #4

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    The stock battery tray and hold down is garbage.

    Im gonna be building my own bolt in solution soon that actually will hold it in place.
    2 1986 cougars (both 4 eyed and 5.0)
    1 1987 cougar

  5. #5
    FEP Senior Member
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    Default

    Well right now I only have 50% of the stock garbage. I'd be happy with 100% of the stock garbage for now. Does anybody know if either hold down will work with my tray? Again I am assuming the Mustang uses the same parts as the LTD which seems like a safe bet.

  6. #6
    FEP Power Member plumkrazy's Avatar
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    my 85 and 86 Capri's had the metal clamp. compare your battery group size to a mustang and use that style
    1 of 3 1985 Silver Grand Prix Capr's
    My first New car and still own 1986 Capri

  7. #7

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    My 1984 LTD has a plastic tray but the hold down piece is metal and it looks orginal to the car.I went to the garge to double check
    Last edited by 84phonypony; 08-18-2017 at 09:36 PM.

  8. #8

    Default

    The battery trays are the same all the way up to at least the sn-95 v-6's. I pulled the whole tray out and it bolted right in place of my 87 tbird back in the day.

    My 83 has a metal hold down, looks like a flat rectangular washer with a small slot in it in. It has a long 8mm bolt with a solid flange where the threads end. The parts stores metal battery hold down would probably work fine to replace this style. If you need the plastic one, any sn-95 battery trsy at the junkyard will fit.

    The battery has to be the propper style and size, or it won't hold the battery at all. The correct bstter has a small lip on the sides and fits into a wedge on the inside edge of the tray and the hold down is wedge shapped to keep it tights.

    All 4 of my plastic battery trays are broken or so flimsy that i can pull the battery out with the right sized battery and a tight hold down. Thats why i am going to make my own tray to replace it.
    2 1986 cougars (both 4 eyed and 5.0)
    1 1987 cougar

  9. #9

    Default

    My 1985 Marquis wagon has the plastic tray with the metal hold down bracket.

  10. #10

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Haystack View Post
    The stock battery tray and hold down is garbage.

    Im gonna be building my own bolt in solution soon that actually will hold it in place.
    x2 lol... here's mine, flat steel strap, j-hooked into an inner fender hole, threaded rod up thru tray hole, and wing nut

    Mike
    1986 Mustang convertible ---> BUILD THREAD
    Past Fox-chassis "four eyes":
    1983 Mercury Cougar LS
    1986 Ford Thunderbird ELAN
    1980 Capri RS Turbo

    Work in progress website ---> http://carb-rebuilds-plus.boards.net/

  11. #11
    FEP Senior Member
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    Thanks for all the replies. I haven't had a chance to look at it so I have no idea what size battery is in it right now. It seemed like a relatively tight fit, but I was more focused on getting the valve cover gaskets on at the time. I'll probably just order the steel bracket and go from there.

  12. #12
    FEP Senior Member
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    Finally got the steel hold down bracket from CJ Pony Parts. It looks decent enough and should keep the battery from flying out of the battery tray if I happen to jump the car 50' in the air. I actually mounted it upside down to how I would have thought it would mount (with the bent flange pointing down) as this seemed to hold the battery the best. Not the most secure thing in the world, but it is better than nothing. Oh forgot to mention. it has a group 56 size battery in there now.
    '89 XR-7 5 Speed
    '95 SC 5 Speed
    '91 Crown Vic P72 351W
    '97 Thunderbird
    '85 Ford LTD Squire

  13. #13
    FEP Power Member
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    You have mounted it correctly. The original finish on the plate was Zinc plated and the bolt was yellow cadinum.
    Fox Body/3rd Gen MCA Gold Card Judge
    84 SVO 24K miles, 85 Mclaren Capri Vert. 84 GT Turbo Vert.
    88 Mclaren Mustang Vert 20K miles, 89 Mustang LX Sport Vert,
    03 Mach 1 7900 miles, 74 Mustang II, 69 Mustang, 67 Mustang, 07 GT500,
    14 Mustang CS/GT, 15 F150 FTX Tuscany, 16 F250 Crewcab, 67 Tbird 47K miles

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