I like your idea about reinforcing the bottom of the battery box.  I'm just going to strap it through my custom made brackets and cinch it down.  It won't go anywhere. 

Today I bought all the 3/4" and 1" cushion clamps the hardware store had so tomorrow I will likely secure the battery cables a I route from the trunk, through the cabin, and into the engine compartment.  I wanted to buy 4' if 3/4" heater hose to run the pos cable through for extra protection, but NAPA closed at 2:00, the hardware store had it for almost $4 per foot, and Advance Auto didn't have any.  I figured Advance would be cheaper, but it was more expensive.  Advance has been disappointing of late.  Unless it is a product that I could also get at Walmart, they just don't seem to have what I need when I go there, not to mention, the counter guys are not car guys and don't understand what I am looking for. 

Tomorrow (Sunday) I should make some progress.  I will be on the road next week so after tomorrow, i won't be back on it until next weekend.

I agree about the battery box flimsiness. In my Corvair I transferred it to front trunk ("Frunk") and (bad back in consideration) mounted it high since the current price of $150+ batteries causes me to 'share' it with my other old cars. I welded 4 nuts to the body metal and then put a steel plate over top of the bottom of the box and screwed it down. This way the hold down strap goes under the plastic box and the metal plate and make things secure.


Regarding backs: I'm thin and relatively tall thus I have a small muscle structure. I also have an elongated torso so it is asking a lot of little muscle to keep me in balance. I had sciatica for 1.5 years. I was a teacher and used a wheeled elevated stool. The stool back pivoted and I would literally sit backwards on the stool and lean over the tilted back to rest and stretch my back as I used the white board and scurried about the college TV Studio which was split among four rooms when in Production. You do what you have to do to get the job done.

I'm sorry to hear of your back troubles.  There's nothing worse than not being able to do normal activities due to pain and/or injury.  Hopefully it will get better soon.  I find that walking on my treadmill helps keep my back loose. 

When I was in my 20's I always wondered why the "old guys" (30's and 40's) were always complaining of back pain.  Now in my 60's I get it!  Actually in 2004 I had a bulged disc and related sciatica.  It did get better but I always have some degree of back discomfort.  Probably arthritis now.  Mine is worst after a day of climbing ladders or under a car all day.

Today I started mounting my trunk mounted battery box.  It came with two flimsy plastic securing clamps and tiny screws.  I decided to make my own out of 1" angle iron and welded them to the trunk floor.  I cleaned up and primed the new brackets.  Tomorrow I'll paint black and finish mounting the box.  I started routing the 1-0 pos and neg battery cables.  I'm concerned that the seat frame may impinge on the cables.  I'll continue with that tomorrow.  I may run the pos cable through a section of 3/4 heater hose to give it additional protection.  Will report more tomorrow.

Yea, "Stuff Happens." This year I really started to make progress on my "24 years on jackstands" Sunbeam Tiger. Then I got Covid and a lingering cough. Right after we had a heatwave that made the garage unbearable and as that dissipated I have now hurt my back and can barely hobble around. I've barely gotten anything done in three months and I'm not sure with the back issue when I'll be able to resume.

And what is it with backs? It was mildly sore but I still functioned at 90%. Then one day I was simply sanding, leaning on the car for support and elevated ever so slightly and WHAM! It has been 10 day and not getting better. Chronic problem since my early 20's and always the Very, VERY lower muscles right above the hip. It goes out a few times a year typically erasing 6 weeks of any year to getting work done. :-(

Quote from: rob289c on October 22, 2024, 06:18:52 PM

Tomorrow is another day and I plan to get more done.  I am going to attempt to get the rear passenger windows operating properly. 

With that attitude, I'm sure you'll get it done!  Hang in there!

Dwayne

Yesterday (Wednesday) I made very little progress but the good news is that I got my Mazda back from the transmission shop so I have that back.  So far, so good.  It selects gear positions, shifts and drives as it should.  I did investigate how I am going to run the rear wiring harness, speaker wires, and battery cables from the trunk to the cab and under hood.  Didn't do anything permanent...just trying to brainstorm ideas.  I also set the battery box in place in the trunk to figure out how I am going to secure it.

Today I got both rear quarter windows installed and operating.  Both go up and down.  The right side rollers will come out of the track if it goes down too far.  I am going to have to install a stop to prevent it from going down too far. 

I am going to spend some time tomorrow figuring out the wiring harness and battery installation.  I need to go to NAPA to pick up the fitting I ordered and will use to hold the valves in place when I do the valve stem seal replacement.  The first tool I bought (a hose that is supposed to screw into the spark plug hole would not thread in the 14mm hole.  It also wouldn't accept a 1/4" npt air fitting at the other end as it was supposed to.  I took it back and ordered a fitting that I will use instead.  I've been procrastinating on that job but I'm going to have to just jump in and do it.  I don't want to permanently install the valve cover until the seals are replaced.

Good to hear you made a lot of progress!

Thank you for the well wishes and concern.  These are merely speedbumps and will all be overcome. 

Today I was able to finish up my fuel system.  I installed the gas tank, fuel filler neck, and gas cap.  I tightened all the fuel line fittings and connected the rigid fuel lines to the fuel pump and gas tank.  I then test fit the rear wiring harness.  I will be using the Pinto harness.  I was concerned that the Pinto harness would be too narrow to reach the Mustang Taillights but it appears that they will fit just fine.  I am going to have to make a few of modifications: I will have to splice the Mustang backup light wiring into the Pinto harness as the Mustang lights are in the lower valance panel.  I will have to splice the Mustang license plate lamp wiring in to the Pinto harness.  Lastly, I will have to splice the Mustang fuel gauge/float assembly wire into the Pinto harness.  The Mustang uses one wire.  The Pinto uses two and both have different connectors.  I think the 2nd wire on the Pinto harness is for a low fuel warning light? 

Tomorrow is another day and I plan to get more done.  I am going to attempt to get the rear passenger windows operating properly. 

Glad it sounds like your wife is OK. Hopefully the repair to her car won't take too long and that the dealership can resolve the transmission issue on your Mazda. It's just frustrating to have it all happen at once. Maybe this weekend you can have time for your project!

Yesterday I didn't get anything done on the project.  Today I got a 12" 1/4" line and fittings and installed it.  I need to do a couple of bends, then I can tighten all the fittings and tie the fuel pump and fuel tank ends in with flexible fuel hose.  I also primed and painted the brake and fuel line hangers and screws.  I will likely secure the lines tomorrow.  I cleaned up the short section of pipe that screws to the taillight panel (Mustang) to the tank and primed/painted the hardware.  I would like to get the entire fuel system buttoned up. 

My wife hit a deer this AM on the way to work so the unplanned drive to her work to look it over and file the claim, then the drive to the body shop killed some of my productive time.  Going to the transmission shop to tell them my tale of whoa on my Mazda, then dropping it off there this PM also killed my productive time.  Hopefully tomorrow will be better and I can get more done.