Battery Hold Down

[Dirt22]

My father has a 92 XJ, and doesn't have a battery hold down. I have a 98 but they don't look the same, is there a difference? Where can I get one for his 92 other than a local JY?

 

[xcm]

wratchet strap should get you to the junkyard.

 

[Johnnie Walker]

Are the stock j-bolts there? If so you can go to the JY, or go to Napa and get a universal for under 10$

 

[Dirt22]

JY is too far away, and with work I don't have the time.
Looking at them side by side, looks like the previose owner cut the battery box to fit in a larger battery I guess...

So Other than the local JY...

Is there a place online that I can just order an OE battery tray and hold down?

 

[Dirt22]

Are the stock j-bolts there? If so you can go to the JY, or go to Napa and get a universal for under 10$

J bolt is there only on the front side. I might just fab something up at work, the tray itself has been cut up. - No wonder they didn't look the same. heh

 

[xcm]

theres really no xj-specific battery hold down that ive been able to find... ive recommended to a couple fab shops that they SHOULD MAKE THIS. as it would sell... i was forced to make my own, and it can be difficult to get it to fit right. sorry about the knee jerk reaction about the junkyard earlier... shouldve gone into detail why.

 

[Dirt22]

No biggy, The hard part is that he has an optima battery with the extra terminals... so I gatta make something that will work, and not touch them.

I'll get something wipped up tomorrow and post a pic.

 

[SleeperXJ]

I ended up using a Mean Green battery strap.
It works well with the Optima. The stock rubberized bar didn't fit
nearly as well.
http://www.quadratec.com/products/17004_701.htm
Not sure of a good source for J bolts .

 

[Scorpion8]

Not sure of a good source for J bolts .

The dealer has the j-bolts, and so do many of the online places:

http://www.teamgrandwagoneer.com/parts/XJ_Parts/Hardware/index.html

 

[Dirt22]

J bolts are just a piece of all thread bent in the vice.

 

[lucky9]

You can probably find an L-shaped concrete bolt at the building and supply or hardware store. might take some heat to get he J shape. All-thread would work also.

 

[Shorty]

it sounds like the problem is a lack of battery tray to attach the rear J hook through. I'd look farther down into the engine compartment for a suitable location and create a longer J hook if you can-- all thread is sufficient.

If worse comes to worst, a replacement tray should solve the problem without any new holes being drilled into the "frame" rail.

Once you've got a method to secure the battery, cover the J hook that's close to the side terminal on the Optima with fuel hose and it will be insulated against shorting to ground.