My Willys 3A and 3B Community

3A, 3B, DJ Technical Knowledge Base => "Original"-- Technical Questions, Answers, Observations => Topic started by: 1955CJ-5 on August 15, 2013, 12:34:39 PM

Title: Battery Hold Down Bracket..
Post by: 1955CJ-5 on August 15, 2013, 12:34:39 PM: I have this funky wire bracket that came with the jeep....it's not an original but probably a period aftermarket...or maybe they still carry them at O'reilly's...

I will be sticking with the 6V system.

I can't seem to find a repro hold-down with the brace that bolts to the fender...nor can I find a picture.

Is the brace not a good idea? Anyone have a picture of an original hold-down?
Title: Re: Battery Hold Down Bracket..
Post by: Quebec Jeep on August 15, 2013, 01:46:27 PM: Hi,

On our website, Jonathan did this:

http://www.cj3apage.com/index/My_1950/installing_an_optima_battery.htm

Mine is a little bit different. I don't know if it's an original or not. I will add picture tomorrow.

Even on the Joe Caprio , the brace from the fender is missing.

http://www.film.queensu.ca/CJ3B/Photos/Siblings/CJ3A/Caprio/Lagler/3AEngineRight.JPG
Title: Re: Battery Hold Down Bracket..
Post by: stony on August 15, 2013, 02:01:39 PM: Walck's has them.
Title: Re: Battery Hold Down Bracket..
Post by: Quebec Jeep on August 15, 2013, 02:06:11 PM: Walcks does'nt also has the brace to the fender.

But it's look good.

http://walcks4wd.com/battery-hold-down-6v-usa-made.html
Title: Re: Battery Hold Down Bracket..
Post by: 1955CJ-5 on August 15, 2013, 02:21:52 PM: Walck's has them, and so does Kaiser-willys, but they don't have the brace like this one..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/190814804253

So now I'm wondering if the brace is not welded on but instead is a separate part...the pictures of the Optima conversion make me think that maybe the brace attaches under the J-bolt wing nut and is not welded to the frame...

Walck's offers the brace as a separate item...Guess I better call....

http://walcks4wd.com/battery-strap-to-fender.html
Title: Re: Battery Hold Down Bracket..
Post by: 1955CJ-5 on August 15, 2013, 02:38:37 PM: I called Walck's....the info that they have shows that the strap was not used after Cj-2a # 215649, even though the stud on the fender is still there on the 3A's....

And, the strap is not welded to the hold-down frame, but it fastens on one end to the fender stud and to the J-bolt on the other....
Title: Re: Battery Hold Down Bracket..
Post by: Quebec Jeep on August 15, 2013, 03:22:54 PM: Thanks. I'm learning a lot and that' why I love our forum.
Title: Re: Battery Hold Down Bracket..
Post by: stony on August 15, 2013, 03:27:21 PM: Hope this comes through!

https://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&q=cj3a%20battery%20hold%20down&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=VisNUsujILap4AOew4DICQ&biw=1138&bih=497&sei=WSsNUrDxK_Pl4APykIDgCg#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=ZGYm-49uMwf_9M%3A%3BLHEr2_6ErrdWmM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.ewillys.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads2%252F2012%252F08%252F1951-cj3a-otis-ma3.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.ewillys.com%252Ftag%252Fhalftop%252Fpage%252F2%252F%3B600%3B450
Title: Re: Battery Hold Down Bracket..
Post by: 1955CJ-5 on August 15, 2013, 05:18:27 PM: Yes it did...that is one of the welded brackets....and that looks like it could be a 2a or an early 3a with the bottom mount radiator....

But, on the same page, this is my jeep before I bought it and took it apart!!

https://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&q=cj3a%20battery%20hold%20down&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=VisNUsujILap4AOew4DICQ&biw=1138&bih=497&sei=WSsNUrDxK_Pl4APykIDgCg#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=vepsqyjw89ULZM%3A%3BjX_-W0gfFOUu3M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.ewillys.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads2%252F2013%252F01%252F1951-cj3a-boise-id-rearpto.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.ewillys.com%252Fpage%252F147%252F%253Flang%253Des%3B600%3B450

That was a cold day in January!
Title: Re: Battery Hold Down Bracket..
Post by: Ryan_M on August 15, 2013, 07:53:05 PM: Mine is a '51 and has the brace. I assumed it was original to the Jeep but maybe not?
Title: Re: Battery Hold Down Bracket..
Post by: 1955CJ-5 on August 15, 2013, 08:53:06 PM: I don't know....Maybe BobW will drop in and clear this up....
Title: Re: Battery Hold Down Bracket..
Post by: calvinhunt on August 15, 2013, 11:48:50 PM: Mine is a 49 and looks exactly like Ryan's
Title: Re: Battery Hold Down Bracket..
Post by: Quebec Jeep on August 16, 2013, 08:29:33 AM: Ok Here is mine and it's a 1950.

It does look different. So you are all getting aftermarket and mine is an original survivor!ï¿½ ;D :P :P ;D

I found this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Jeep-Willys-MB-GPW-Battery-hold-down-frame-original-/271250580079?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3f27cb626f&vxp=mtr

Now I should look for the Famous F.

I found this thread interesting and may end out to make a webpage based on it in the tech and tips section.
Title: Re: Battery Hold Down Bracket..
Post by: Ryan_M on August 16, 2013, 10:05:45 AM: This does not clear up the mystery of the battery bracket but I've seen QTM advertise a few items on ebay as "original" that were not even close. I'm not totally bashing them as I've bought several items and been happy with all of them but I sometimes question the accuracy of the description.
Title: Re: Battery Hold Down Bracket..
Post by: 1955CJ-5 on August 16, 2013, 10:09:23 AM: Wow, $81 and climbing!

Based on what Walck's told me and from what I've seen, the originals did not have the fender strap welded to the hold-down frame. The fender strap fastened to the J-bolt on one end and then of course the fender stud on the other......and that makes sense to me as not all batteries and not all jeeps would have been identical so a little play or adjustment in the strap might have been needed....

But, who really knows? There could easily have been more than one type hold-down that Willys used over the years....
Title: Re: Battery Hold Down Bracket..
Post by: Bob W on August 18, 2013, 06:40:47 PM: Original CJ-3A battery hold downs had the fender strap welded on. Here is a link to the only place I've ever seen them reproduced. I do not know who is making these and I have not seen one in person but they look good in the photos.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/190814804253?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
Title: Re: Battery Hold Down Bracket..
Post by: 1955CJ-5 on August 18, 2013, 07:02:04 PM: Thanks Bob!

I have been going to order one of those but that's when the question arose as to which was used on the 3A..

Thanks for clearing this up...

Randy
Title: Re: Battery Hold Down Bracket..
Post by: Rich48 on August 21, 2013, 08:57:20 PM: The fender strap and the hold-down bracket were two separate parts on the CJ-2A joined by the J-bolt. However, the battery tray is too high on the CJ-3A to use the CJ-2A strap. I believe Ryan may be on to something. The picture looks like an original part with spot welding.
Title: Re: Battery Hold Down Bracket..
Post by: 1955CJ-5 on October 26, 2013, 07:54:09 PM: I got one of the ebay hold-down brackets. I had it powder coated along with some other parts....

It fits great..
Title: Re: Battery Hold Down Bracket..
Post by: Steve on November 04, 2013, 01:31:51 PM: I wondered what the bolt on the fender was for...mystery solved. Very interesting.

Steve
Title: Re: Battery Hold Down Bracket..
Post by: Hamhog on October 28, 2020, 10:02:20 AM: Does anyone still make these brackets?
Title: Re: Battery Hold Down Bracket..
Post by: 1955CJ-5 on October 28, 2020, 09:35:30 PM: I've looked at every vendor I can think of, and no hold down frame with the fender strap....

You may have to make one, or at least add the strap to a vendor version.

I can get measurements and pics if it helps.....

If you don't have a welder, you'll never regret getting one....suddenly you are able to make or repair nearly everything you will need....

Randy
Title: Re: Battery Hold Down Bracket..
Post by: Hamhog on October 30, 2020, 04:19:16 PM: Thanks. I've got the earlier 2A-style bracket and brace. I could probably figure it out. I appreciate it.
Title: Re: Battery Hold Down Bracket..
Post by: 64CJ5 on October 31, 2020, 10:47:24 AM: My '52 M38 came to me with out an engine,battery tray or battery. It had the stud on the finder so when I put a battery tray and a 12V battery on it I bent some strap to go from the J bolts to the stud. Painted the straps and they hold things in place. Not worried about things being correct or original on this Jeep just want it to bring me home when I go out on the trails.