Disco 2 battery tray

[aguycalledsteve]

I'm looking for some advice on improving the way the battery is mounted on my disco2. On the diagram of the tray I've circled the mounting points where it bolts to the inner wing. I spent a considerable amount of time removing the bolts yesterday and due to those locations being a water trap, The two at the front had a considerable amount in. This caused the mild steel bolts heads to corrode into a shape that wasn't conducive to being removed. From what I can see they are held by a captive nut.

Basically what I'm looking to achieve is to reattach the battery tray and not have a repeat performance of bolt head corrosion or seizure resulting in sheared bolts. I was thinking of putting a stainless bolt in but I've read that this could cause issues with the captive nut and corrosion.

 

[sako243]

I'm no expert but I think that of the two options the potential for stainless corrosion is the lesser of two evils. Maybe coat them in copper slip but then put a blob of gasket sealant / hot glue / thread lock to prevent it coming undone.

 

[123hotchef]

drill a hole in the bottom of the tray so the water drains away too

 

[BarrieJ]

My son's 90 tdi has no shortage of stainless steel fastenings, all replacing original mild steel components (none of them in critically stressed areas), copious amounts of copperslip and there's been no noticeable corrosion - unlike the originals which were in very poor shape.
Considering the purchase price of Land Rovers, corrosion protection was lamentably poor.
We briefly owned a Rover 90 P4, dated 1957, the chassis and bodywork (where it was steel not Birmabright) was in much, much better condition than our son's 30 odd years younger Land Rover.
I hope things have improved.

 

[aguycalledsteve]

I'm no expert but I think that of the two options the potential for stainless corrosion is the lesser of two evils. Maybe coat them in copper slip but then put a blob of gasket sealant / hot glue / thread lock to prevent it coming undone.

drill a hole in the bottom of the tray so the water drains away too

Thanks.

That's the plan for the tray. That'll allow the water to drain and not pool like it did. I just need to up the protection against moisture on the bolt head so that if i have to do it again it'll be a lot easier to remove than it was yesterday. I think a blob of grease on both ends will help extend the life of the bolt and retain my sanity

 

[aguycalledsteve]

I hope things have improved.

Unfortunately not. Rotten like a ripe pear in the sun. Just in the process of removing the inner arch and repairing the bulkhead. Yesterday was spent stripping it all down.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

My 200TDi Disco was rotten at 6 years old !

 

[Robotstar5]

I keep a small pot of waxoyl with an old brush in it for those sort of jobs, once the bolt's fitted, just brush some onto the exposed parts.

 

[Kayos]

Don’t show me pictures like that, I’m currently ignoring the rust on mine

 

[aguycalledsteve]

Don’t show me pictures like that, I’m currently ignoring the rust on mine

I wouldn't ignore it for too long

 

[Kayos]

Covered it with gaffer tape to go to pay and play

 

[aguycalledsteve]

Yours looks worse than mine

Still don't understand why there's not a lot of availability on replacement panels for d2's. D1's have so much choice when it comes to repairing bodywork.