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MG MGA - Storage bin to replace left side battery

I would like to put some sort of storage in place of the left side battery.
those of you that have done this, how big did you make it and what materials did you use? The body is off the frame so access is no problem.
Steve Bryan

I'm seeing what it would take to adapt a surplus 50 Caliber ammo can to the space. It's rugged and has a positive gasketed seal.
D Sjostrom

Hi Steve. A few thoughts come to mind. A storage container should obviously be of a base size area to snugly fit into the metal frame of the battery carrier. It should be tall enough to house whatever tools or spare parts you want to carry, but not so tall that the battery hatch cover wont fit on. As for storage container material, one could fabricate a plywood bin, and cover the outside of the plywood with fiberglass resin. This would make it waterproof. A drop on plywood lid with a few quick release brass catches would make it fast and easy to retrieve stuff. Alternately, you might be able to find a heavy walled commercially made plastic storage bin that would be of suitable size. Companies like Rubbermaid make various sizes of plastic bins with tight fitting snap on lids. If a proper sized unit could be found, one of these could easily be bolted into the battery carrier. The plastic bottom could even be reinforced with a properly sized chunk of aluminum or sheet metal if desired. These are just a few ideas. Almost any suitably sized wood , metal, plastic, or fiberglass container would work well. Good luck, Glenn
Glenn

Steve

Check out the battery box available from the usual suspects for the B. I think it is the same size battery so should fit the supports well. Only problem is it is designed to seal with the B support shelf and cover. Shouldn't be too hard to work out a mod for the A.

TWIW

Larry

58A
Larry Hallanger

Steve, when I restored my MGA about 15 years ago, I found some ammo boxes, 5.56 mm blank, that fit into my unused battery cradle. Measurements are, roughly, 5.5x11x7" high. Lined with some waterproof carpet padding, and filled it with lots of spare parts (fuel and water pumps, distributor, hydraulic hoses, bearings and seals, rear hub nut wrench, etc, etc. Nice to have if you're a traveller. Marvin
Marvin Stuart

Check the archives. I'm pretty sure that there was a thread that provided the number for a Tupperware (or similar) plastic container with lid that fits the battery box.

GTF
G T Foster

Steve,
You could go to a local battery store and ask whether they have any display batteries in the correct frame size. It should not take too much to make one of these into a tool box.
Mike Parker

Aii good ideas thank you Steve
Steve Bryan

Marvin, how did you manage to get clearance when you open the lid? I assume you mounted it lengthwise with the car? I bought an ammo box the same size for that purpose but it looks like the lid would be stopped by the sheetmetal.
John Vallely
Scotia NY
John Vallely

The outfits that supply the 6 volt reproduction batteries could probably sell just the cases with no innards, especially if they could hide a 12 volt battery in the same case for the other side...
Del Rawlins

I went to a local tin shop and had them make me a unit that fits perfectly. It has a hindged lid and locks closed with a clasp and a safety lock pin. Great place for fuel pump, plugs, oil, jumper wires for low voltage tests ect. Cost was about $40. It is held in place with two bolts
JEFF BECKER

I made a small box out of particle board with a lid which is held down by an accessory shop battery clamp (with wing nuts). In it I have a cheap wheel hammer and a small screw jack, the handle for which is suspended across the car (ie under the battery and my little box) held on by a couple of small springs. This is to save using my pristine set of original tools! I have not yet had to use my "get home" kit (in case of a flat tyre) and in any case now carry an aerosol puncture repair/inflation can in all of my cars.
Barry Bahnisch

John, I secured the box in the cradle using a bracket simular to the normal battery hold-down bracket. It's not a problem to remove once you get the hang ov it. I use it to carry mostly emergency spares that are MG specific, not normally carried in a store. I only remove the box if I or, most often, someone else needs something from it. I padded the inside with thin waterproof carpet padding (only because I had some). Marvin
Marvin Syuart

Marvin--
So you remove the box from the rack before you open it--hadn't thought of that. I was stuck on the idea of fixing the box permanently and opening the lid with the box still down in the rack.

I guess you could say I wasn't thinking of the box outside.

Thanks. I'll try it that way.
John V.
John Vallely

This thread was discussed between 24/03/2007 and 31/03/2007

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This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.