Polyurethane Radiator Support Mounts (Cab Also)

The 55 lb. battery over time will deform and stretch the sheet metal out. It's like a bowling ball in a plastic shopping bag. Every pothole, boulder, depression, etc., the cumulative effect is stretching, deformation. It's happening on my +6 year old truck and it's never been jumped. I just overland on forest service roads and desert trails, and city streets of San Diego. <--Rough!

As far as I'm concerned everything Robert has talked about is true. There is a lot of evidence posted in this forum if you know where to look. The long travel guys find the weaknesses in the trucks first, so if you trace their posts, you'll find it.

This thread has lots of details and pics: Preventative Maintenance for Long Travel (Advice after going LT) Start reading the thread above on post #64 for the sheet metal / core support / battery comments.

 

@Crom said everything I would had told you. He hit the nail right on the head in a few areas.

My advice, AT minimum to prevent deformation is to do the bushings and a battery relocatioj to either the bed or the frame. That will ease all the weight of the battery in the front and prevent any further deformation or the start of it, yes, even if you city drive it. Like I said, the roads will kill it over time as well. It won't be a right away thing but it will happen. Body shops are hip to this issue as well and constantly have to replace them due to this issue.

 

I won't be putting my battery in the bed...

Got a link for frame relocation?
Has anyone simply reinforced the stock location?

 

There i no good way to reinforce at the stock location. There is too much sheetmetal covering the frame area to be able to reinforce it. You can check out my build thread for my relocation. I did it on the frame by the back of it before the shocks and gas tank area. Almost under the passenger rear door. It turned out great. I ran 1/0 guage welding wire to the back and some breakers. There was a great spot for the breaker to mount up as well as the grounding spot. Truck starts right up and cranks strong. I did have to get the exhaust rebent at the battery in order to be able to mount and unmount it, however. That is the drawback to the mod, but overall I'm very happy with it.

 

Lol. I saw all your likes of my posts @Crom.

you crazy. Lmao.

 

Heh, I went to your build thread to see how you relocated the battery, and decided I would just read the whole thing. You've done some really neat creative stuff to your truck and what I really liked most is you explained why you did what you did which is great for others to learn from. I also read the whole fuel pump replacement thread. I liked how you closed the loop on it too. So many times, I'll read about a thread about an issue and a final resolution is not posted in the end... Anyways, I enjoy reading and learning from others experience.

 

I have a method to my madness and if others choose to follow suit then it's great if not, then that's their prerogative. I have been in the automotive industry for well over 12 years and I recognize weak points, flaws, etc. When I see them. I explain my methods so other people can understand my rationality and mentality behind the mods. And for like the fuel pump it was a mess, but I kept at it and I finally figured out what was occuring. I just want to make sure people are well informed when making their decisions, purchases, and mods. I love to help out, especially on this community. That's why if someone is jacked up or going down the wrong path I'll try to make sure to let them know what's going on before they do it.

 

Thanks so much for your input to this thread. I finally installed my bushing today. The drivers side was not in that bad of shape but the passengers side was torn. Only have 85,000 miles on but wanted peace of mind. Thanks again all.

 

Who makes a good battery mount?

 

Well I don't know about all the other guy but I got my from Allstar. Their weld on 56100 battery tray. I had it reinforced with 1/8 steel plating at the bottom. I just liked it becauss of the way it had a back wall and two weld on upper tabs. Check out my build thread on the last few pages. I posted about it.

 

I'm installing the bushings, but did anyone have an issue with the smaller washers hole being too small for the bolt?

 

Should get BAMF to make a bolt on battery cage.

 

I wound up using some spacers I had that have a larger diameter hole for the bolt to pass through. They're about 2.5x thicker than the washers but I think it's ok. We'll see how it goes tomorrow. Hopefully no noises.

 

I didn't have that issue. But noted that in the Amazon reviews of the body bushings, someone complained of that.

Snap a pic of yer install if you can. Did you put the bigger one on top?

 

I will mañana, but I put the smaller on top, it looks ok, I might change it though because the larger washer on the bottom is touching the side of the frame mount. Not sure if that will be an issue.

Edit: just skimmed through the thread again, looks like I'll be putting the larger one on top tomorrow.

 

So for a second gen DCSB, can some one give me the parts list to order that i will need to replace the cab and radiator mounts, and a good place to buy them?

 

The first post has the part numbers. Most have been sourcing them from Amazon, however you could Google those numbers and try elsewhere.

 

Doh! Every time I log into this site my to-do list gets longer.

Sub'd

 

4 wheel parts has them

 

Pelfreybilt battery cage is nice.