1970 FE5 'Cuda Build

[mtull]

Happy to help, sometimes I get lucky when searching.  I believe other vendors sell the brackets as well, those were just the one's I came across first.  Hopefully your preferred vendor has a set.

[1970Cuda]

Hi mtull and fellow restorers: So I did order those firewall brackets today for my forward light harness, so progress continues ...

On another note: I was working on pre-installing the positive cable and battery tray (yesterday, 12/21) and I ran into a weird situation. There seems to be a significant misalignment between the battery tray and the bolt holes on my inner fender wells. These are from Dynacorn and in general, I thought these were pretty good panels. I ordered them a long while back from Roseville (probably five years ago). And so far, all the bolt holes and contours on the panels seem to be good. 

Has anyone else found that either the panels themselves or battery tray to be "off" from the OEM products?

The solution that I can see is that I'll need to buy a new battery tray and have it cut and fabricated to make it fit correctly and then paint it.

[Katfish]

Got a pic?
You sure it's not the battery tray that is off?

[1970Cuda]

Hi Katfish - I actually meant to add the battery tray picture to my post. And I thought maybe it was off when it was stamped by the manufacturer, but I honestly don't know. Let me know what you think about the misalignment. It's about 0.5 inches off from the mounting holes on the inner fenders. (Note that the radiator support is original.)

[Katfish]

It's been at least 15yrs, but I remember having to redrill a hole when I replaced my battery tray.
It might have been a 70 vs 71-74 thing, been a long time.
Probably not what you want to hear, but I would slot the hole in the tray and use a larger/fender washer. Hacking the apron is forever, you can always replace the tray.
If you're careful, might not even need a larger washer.
Battery will hide those bolts.

[1970Cuda]

Sorry for the delay in posting all (and Katfish), but I had shoulder surgery late last year (12/23/25) and am sporting only one working hand at the moment.

Interesting thought on those pesky 1970 model years, and you might very well be correct on the alignment issue on my battery tray Katfish. I did look at it yesterday (just look mind you is all, no touching it for now until the surgeon and PT clear me for action), but I think if I loosely install the bottom foot bracket in place, I can simply mark the tray from the underside and re-drill it to fit. And great suggestion too!

[Katfish]

Hope you're down time in minimal.
I had rotor cuff surgery about 12 yrs ago and it was 6 months in a sling, brutal.

[MoparCarGuy]

Here are a few reference photos for the battery tray installation. There are four (4) bolts holding the tray into the car and one (1) drain hole that sometimes fools people into thinking it is for a bolt.
The U-nuts are 5/16"-18.
The photos should help.

[1970Cuda]

Wow MoparCarGuy, those are great pictures of all the components and the fender apron layout on my battery tray questions; I really appreciate that you took the tine to post your reference photos to help me install the battery tray correctly. I will check out my tray (after my shoulder heals from surgery) and see what I am missing. It seems to be a pretty straight forward installation, but maybe I purchased the incorrect tray or something.

I did already install (pre-surgery) my U-nuts, but once I am healed up and released by the doctor, I will double-check my installation and the tray. I might even look for an original tray, just to compare it to the one I purchased.

Thanks again for your guidance!