Should be in the engine compartment on the left side. At least, that is where it moved in 1937. Can't believe they'd have moved it back under the seat! (Maybe a previous owner put it in the trunk?)

By the way, were you aware that there is a downloadable owner's manual in the on-line library, here?

Jon is correct. A tray is built into the left inner fender panel towards the front nearer the radiator.

Josh
My 39 Six has the battery on the driver side forward engine compartment. The tray is built in as previously stated

Thank You for the answers guys!

Josh

What is the original battery tray/hold down set up on the stepdowns? My '54 has a 'frame' built into drivers side fender as mentioned above, however there is just a rusty tray floating on top with no hold down. Is the 'frame' the tray or should it has something more?

The hold-down bolts slide into notches at each end of the frame that the tray sets on.

BTW, the location of the battery on the front drivers side inner fender also serves somewhat as an air dam on the 41-47 cars (forcing air through the radiator), while the other side of the radiators usually had a metal panel to function as such (holes when through those if your car was equipped iwth the long trumpet horns). THe hood on a 39 is different than 40-47. THere was some issue with later batteries being too tall and shorting against the hood when the hood was closed.

Would these hold-downs work? One is Studebaker the other Corvette

Eric, the hold down fits around the top edge of the battery, so you need to know which battery you have. Usually it's either a #1 or #2 which are both 6-volt....unless you have switched to 12 volt or an Optima 6-volt. Group 1 batteries are 9"L x 6.75"W x 9"H, Group 2 are 10.25"L x 6.75"W x 9"H, But no matter what battery you have, you must mate the hold-down to it.

For example, here is a new (repro) battery hold down as used in a vintage Ford 1933-53 (not sure if it's Group 1 or 2).. This costs about $ 10 at The Early Ford Store online, but if you look around a bit, you can find one cheaper. Ebay is always a good source, or Hudson vendors:

[img ] [/img]

Then you will need two hold down bolts which you can buy at any auto parts store:

[img ] [/img]

The hook at the bottom, snags the notched portion of the baseplate welded to your car's frame, upon which fits the (loose) tray holding the battery. Be sure that the bolt is long enough that there will still be at least 1/2" of thread protruding from the top of the hold-down, once the battery, tray and hold-down are all in place in the car. I have universal hold-down bolts in my Terraplane and they work fine.

Very helpful thanks!! I just got a new Group 1 battery, which may be wrong as it appears these type of hold downs are only available for Group 2 from what I can see they will not "grab" the smaller battery.

For battery hold-downs constructed the way the ones you have pictured, a hold-down designed for a group 2 battery will hold a group 1 battery. It will just stick out a bit at each end of the group 1 battery.

Battery hold downs were available (I am sure) for almost every size battery ever made.

Here's a Group 1 hold-down on Ebay (for an old Dodge truck) -- way too expensive in my opinion -- but it shows you that the stuff is still out there: [url= http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Battery-Hold-Down-Frame-for-1948-1956-Dodge-Trucks/221225027306?hash=item33820a06ea:g:oR0AAOSwZVhWRv3d&vxp=mtr ]http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Battery-Hold-Down-Frame-for-1948-1956-Dodge-Trucks/221225027306?hash=item33820a06ea:g:oR0AAOSwZVhWRv3d&vxp=mtr[/url]

Here's one that fits tractors with the Group 1 batteries. Still a bit pricey at $23.75: [url= https://www.steinertractor.com/FDS369-battery-retainer ]https://www.steinertractor.com/FDS369-battery-retainer[/url]

Here's a much better price. Evidently this fits '55 Chevys with Group I batteries: [url= http://www.dansclassic.com/product.cfm?p=30479&r=505828&cs=kys%3D%26mk%3D%26md%3D914%26c%3D0%26yr%3D%26pg%3D1%26dnum%3D24 ]http://www.dansclassic.com/product.cfm?p=30479&r=505828&cs=kys%3D%26mk%3D%26md%3D914%26c%3D0%26yr%3D%26pg%3D1%26dnum%3D24[/url]

I'm assuming your battery bolts go at the two short ends but you should check that. Also, if your hood hinges down from the front, be sure that it doesn't hit the posts of the battery, causing a short circuit. This was a problem in the 40's. These cars take a special "shorter" battery. I don't know that yours will have this problem though.

When switching to 12 volts I recommend using a side post (GM) style battery to eliminate the problem of the hood shorting out
On the battery posts. Especially on Hudson’s in the 40’s. Ed