ZTU Battery Box

[Alexander1997]

I don't think I've posted here yet, but I'm in need of a battery box for a 1948 Ztu. Mine is in pretty sad shape.

I've been thinking of taking mine and seeing if I can pay to have a replacement built just like it, but I don't want to quite give up on finding a nice original just yet.

Any leads? Thanks for all help

 

[JOCCO]

If this is the one for the earlier Z I think its hard to find used (in good shape) I don't think there being remade (I could be wrong) also instrument panel might be hard to find. If you go that route might be a chance to produce a few and sell them.

 

[Alexander1997]

If this is the one for the earlier Z I think its hard to find used (in good shape) I don't think there being remade (I could be wrong) also instrument panel might be hard to find. If you go that route might be a chance to produce a few and sell them.

It's for the earlier Z. It's for a ZTU where the battery box is on a stand behind the fuel tank.. I believe Za has the box under the tank? I could be wrong, as this is my first restoration.

And yes sir.. Not easy to find in any decent shape.. I finally got a solid lead on an original ZTU tool box in good shape today, so I don't want to give up quite yet on finding an original battery box. But like you say, if someone is good with metal fabrication and could build these, they'd probably sell very easily.

 

[JOCCO]

It's for the earlier Z. It's for a ZTU where the battery box is on a stand behind the fuel tank.. I believe Za has the box under the tank? I could be wrong, as this is my first restoration.

And yes sir.. Not easy to find in any decent shape.. I finally got a solid lead on an original ZTU tool box in good shape today, so I don't want to give up quite yet on finding an original battery box. But like you say, if someone is good with metal fabrication and could build these, they'd probably sell very easily.

Used to be some people making this stuff but seems it dried up. Its not cheap to do so and not a big volume item. I am sure you could sell say 25. The early R had a similar one that sat on the rear platform. We discussed that on another forum. There is an option of fiber glassing yours, basically using it as the mold. But you need someone good with it and would not be cheap.

 

[Alexander1997]

Used to be some people making this stuff but seems it dried up. Its not cheap to do so and not a big volume item. I am sure you could sell say 25. The early R had a similar one that sat on the rear platform. We discussed that on another forum. There is an option of fiber glassing yours, basically using it as the mold. But you need someone good with it and would not be cheap.

Right.. I'm hoping if I look hard enough for long enough and keep cash ready, I can eventually find a nice original. I thought an original toolbox in any sort of decent shape would never show up, but I'm really happy to say I just bought one 30 minutes ago.

 

[Alan K]

I don't think I've posted here yet, but I'm in need of a battery box for a 1948 Ztu. Mine is in pretty sad shape.

I've been thinking of taking mine and seeing if I can pay to have a replacement built just like it, but I don't want to quite give up on finding a nice original just yet.

Any leads? Thanks for all help

I am sure they are a little different in size but I don't know if a reproduction Allis Chalmers one for like a WD WD45 would be close enough or be able to modify one. Not sure what the reproduction IH ones are, they may work as well.
I agree, the metal fabrication takes some time and money. Used to be a few people making them but not much of a market anymore.

 

[T.R.K.]

Back in the '90s, I made my own battery box for my '38 ZTU. I cut the mount brackets (the 'stand' you mention) and the intrument box off the remains of the box that was on the tractor and formed a new box out of 16 gauge metal. I recall forming all the metal around a 6 ft. piece of 5" channel using a hammer. It worked, but I really wanted tighter bends at the corners. Then I welded the 'stand' back on the bottom and I also had to tack weld the instrument box back on the rear.

 

[JOCCO]

I am sure they are a little different in size but I don't know if a reproduction Allis Chalmers one for like a WD WD45 would be close enough or be able to modify one. Not sure what the reproduction IH ones are, they may work as well.
I agree, the metal fabrication takes some time and money. Used to be a few people making them but not much of a market anymore.

I think there different in a major way. Yes could be made to work (so could a fruit crate) Sheet metal is not real hard but requires a bunch of special tool like everything else.

 

[Alan K]

I think there different in a major way. Yes could be made to work (so could a fruit crate) Sheet metal is not real hard but requires a bunch of special tool like everything else.

I know a lot of the tooling involved in making sheet metal. I do some of that myself. Some of it can be complexed.
If another battery box is close in size it can be modified / cut to fit proper like the original is what I am saying.