Alloy Footplates - anybody installed one?
Discussion
Hi chaps,
I've never had the bit of carpet which stands in front of the battery in my Griff. So when I got some new mats I had a mat made which went over the battery.
I've now got yet more new mats (the last ones were stupidly expensive and shit!) but still no battery cover thingy.
So I was wondering about fitting one of these
my first preference
Another option
Another option
Has anyone fitted one of these in their Griff?
Ta
IanB
I've never had the bit of carpet which stands in front of the battery in my Griff. So when I got some new mats I had a mat made which went over the battery.
I've now got yet more new mats (the last ones were stupidly expensive and shit!) but still no battery cover thingy.
So I was wondering about fitting one of these
my first preference
Another option
Another option
Has anyone fitted one of these in their Griff?
Ta
IanB
Thanks Clive. I never thought about calling on your wonderful skills you thick bugger Ian
A piece of checker plate, bent to the shape of the end of the footwell and over the battery would be perfect - the new drivers mat already has a checker footplate.
Bloody marvellous I'll get a photo of the drivers mat and we can sort something out for some beer tokens.
Cheers Clive
Clive, Could the passengers footwell one be done so as to incorporate a mounting for the ECU?
Something to help get it out the way and reclaim the lost legroom.
What I had in mind was moving it upwards and using the LR bracket on the outside of the ECU as a mounting point. Mine won't go down the side of the battery because of the pipes.
BTW Thanks for the seat belt guides. Fitted and a big improvement.
One suggestion, in the instructions, state what size allan key is needed for fitting.
Fester
Something to help get it out the way and reclaim the lost legroom.
What I had in mind was moving it upwards and using the LR bracket on the outside of the ECU as a mounting point. Mine won't go down the side of the battery because of the pipes.
BTW Thanks for the seat belt guides. Fitted and a big improvement.
One suggestion, in the instructions, state what size allan key is needed for fitting.
Fester
Good idea Fester.
Been giving this a bit of thought over the weekend and I'm currently thinking the footplate could be part of the battery holder somehow. Although I can't remember for the life of me what the battery box looks like 'behind the scenes' so to speak. Has anyone got a photo of one?
I also like the idea of having a bit at the top of the footplate which rolls slightly into the area above the battery to hide all the kak in there. Maybe your idea for a holder for the ecu could be incorporated into there, then you've got a bit of spare space down the right hand side of the battery which could be used to hold the footplate into position somehow.
If anybody has any ideas can you post them here so I can benefit from more than just my own paltry braincell being applied to this task.
You never know, we might even get a new V8Enhancements product out of it eh Clive
Been giving this a bit of thought over the weekend and I'm currently thinking the footplate could be part of the battery holder somehow. Although I can't remember for the life of me what the battery box looks like 'behind the scenes' so to speak. Has anyone got a photo of one?
I also like the idea of having a bit at the top of the footplate which rolls slightly into the area above the battery to hide all the kak in there. Maybe your idea for a holder for the ecu could be incorporated into there, then you've got a bit of spare space down the right hand side of the battery which could be used to hold the footplate into position somehow.
If anybody has any ideas can you post them here so I can benefit from more than just my own paltry braincell being applied to this task.
You never know, we might even get a new V8Enhancements product out of it eh Clive
Edited by Barreti on Monday 8th October 00:38
Only thing I can add at the moment is to be careful that the plate does not short out the battery terminals, possibly put some rubber or fabric backing on it if it is going up against, or over the battery.
My 500 came with a piece of shaped fibreglass about a 1/3 the depth of the box which sits on top of and covers the terminals. On top of that there is a piece of thin carpet and my ECU sits on top of that with the trailing relays and gubbins tucked down the side in front of the heater valve. The piece of carpet/board then goes up against the battery box itself.
I can take some pictures of the various bits if you like.
Colin
My 500 came with a piece of shaped fibreglass about a 1/3 the depth of the box which sits on top of and covers the terminals. On top of that there is a piece of thin carpet and my ECU sits on top of that with the trailing relays and gubbins tucked down the side in front of the heater valve. The piece of carpet/board then goes up against the battery box itself.
I can take some pictures of the various bits if you like.
Colin
If you're really keen, the whole area could be improved.
This might need to be professional fitted, but future labour saving would repay that.
Supposed new footwell plate was a box with a drawer.
The battery, fuse box, ECU and relays were all relocated to inside the drawer.
The outside of the box would be bolted to the original battery fixing points for strength.
The passengers feet rest on the front of the drawer.
A locking mechanism holds it all closed.
When unlocked, the drawer slides out into the footwell. This provides easy access to change the battery and fuses.
Fester
This might need to be professional fitted, but future labour saving would repay that.
Supposed new footwell plate was a box with a drawer.
The battery, fuse box, ECU and relays were all relocated to inside the drawer.
The outside of the box would be bolted to the original battery fixing points for strength.
The passengers feet rest on the front of the drawer.
A locking mechanism holds it all closed.
When unlocked, the drawer slides out into the footwell. This provides easy access to change the battery and fuses.
Fester
a few interesting ideas here;
Ian, at first I assumed you were after a plate to replace the cover with the carpet stuck to it that sits vertically in front of the battery area,.........
this would be okay, but would need an insulating material glued to the back face of it so that no wiring can be shortened out.
Unc Fester, not so sure about a shelf for the ecu, as things are pretty crammed in down in that area, as others have said, can the ecu not sit on top of the battery whilst being isolated by some plywood, and carpet ect?
also, my first impression of a shelf or bracket on the back of the footplate/ cover, would mean that removal of the panel will mean removing the ecu from it each time, and the wiring may not be long enough to leave it attatched to still give access to the battery and fuses.
A box with a drawer arrangement, dont think the wiring to the battery will be forgiving enough to allow the battery much movement, those cables are stiff so and so`s, but perhaps you`ve had a beer to many
......... no offense.
with regards to the legroom on the passenger side, I am in the process of making up a kit to place the battery in the boot, as done by a couple of people on here in the past, and this will also come with something to then neatly stow the ecu in the footwell, so if there is enough interest in this I`ll try and get my finger out.
Ian, at first I assumed you were after a plate to replace the cover with the carpet stuck to it that sits vertically in front of the battery area,.........
this would be okay, but would need an insulating material glued to the back face of it so that no wiring can be shortened out.
Unc Fester, not so sure about a shelf for the ecu, as things are pretty crammed in down in that area, as others have said, can the ecu not sit on top of the battery whilst being isolated by some plywood, and carpet ect?
also, my first impression of a shelf or bracket on the back of the footplate/ cover, would mean that removal of the panel will mean removing the ecu from it each time, and the wiring may not be long enough to leave it attatched to still give access to the battery and fuses.
A box with a drawer arrangement, dont think the wiring to the battery will be forgiving enough to allow the battery much movement, those cables are stiff so and so`s, but perhaps you`ve had a beer to many
......... no offense.with regards to the legroom on the passenger side, I am in the process of making up a kit to place the battery in the boot, as done by a couple of people on here in the past, and this will also come with something to then neatly stow the ecu in the footwell, so if there is enough interest in this I`ll try and get my finger out.
clive f said:
a few interesting ideas here;
Ian, at first I assumed you were after a plate to replace the cover with the carpet stuck to it that sits vertically in front of the battery area,.........
this would be okay, but would need an insulating material glued to the back face of it so that no wiring can be shortened out.
Thats what I was talking about Clive but now I've got to thinking now these other ideas have been thrown into the ring - except for FFG's 'bit of plywood' that is Ian, at first I assumed you were after a plate to replace the cover with the carpet stuck to it that sits vertically in front of the battery area,.........
this would be okay, but would need an insulating material glued to the back face of it so that no wiring can be shortened out.
I'll be back soon with my thoughts...
I don`t think anything should be attatched to the back of the footplate, how do you remmove the plate if parts are attatched to the back of it, plus the existing wiring to the parts down there probably isn`t long enough to allow it to be repositioned, let alone move outwards when you remove the plate with these bits attatched to the back of it.
the last thing you want is to disturb the wiring unnecessarily, and cause a fault that takes you ages to find!
the last thing you want is to disturb the wiring unnecessarily, and cause a fault that takes you ages to find!
clive f said:
I don`t think anything should be attatched to the back of the footplate, how do you remmove the plate if parts are attatched to the back of it, plus the existing wiring to the parts down there probably isn`t long enough to allow it to be repositioned, let alone move outwards when you remove the plate with these bits attatched to the back of it.
the last thing you want is to disturb the wiring unnecessarily, and cause a fault that takes you ages to find!
No offence taken.the last thing you want is to disturb the wiring unnecessarily, and cause a fault that takes you ages to find!
I'm not as think as you drunk I am.
Not as think as you...
Not as...
You're right lad, juss one more for the road.
Seriously.
I have seen this idea of a pull out battery drawer working with an array of batteries providing 24V on some HGV's and buses. It used runners like a metal filing cabinet.
Some years ago there was even a conversion for the transit van with an engine/gearbox mounted on such runners. All the pipes and wiring, including alternator, starter motor and battery cable was flexible coils. Undoing a couple of bolts let the whole thing slide out the front of the van. The radiator and front grill came too. It was RWD in those days and it just slid off splines for the drive. It gave total access for servicing. You could even remove it totally for a full engine swap. The firm that made them was trying to sell to larger fleet operators with big in-house workshops. Never caught on, to expensive.
It may be that battery cable hardens and deteriorates with age. Replacing it with newer, more flexible cable with extra length to allow the draw to slide should be fine.
Remember, you're only going to flex it whenever you open and close the drawer. So, only whenever a fuse needs changing and so on. In any case I once saw battery lead as a coil, like a phone cable. No idea where to get it though.
I am given to understand that the ECU loom is quite long as it was originally a Range Rover loom. The extra length is stuffed into the N/S wing and can be pulled out. Can anyone confirm this and how much slack is available?
The biggest electrical headache is probably going to be the fuse box wiring.
Putting the battery in the boot seems worse to me. The weight isn't where you want it. The boot is short of room as it is and you often need boot room. You don't often need battery access. It's just that the original location is a real pain to change one.
clive f said:
a few interesting ideas here;
Ian, at first I assumed you were after a plate to replace the cover with the carpet stuck to it that sits vertically in front of the battery area,.........
this would be okay, but would need an insulating material glued to the back face of it so that no wiring can be shortened out.
Unc Fester, not so sure about a shelf for the ecu, as things are pretty crammed in down in that area, as others have said, can the ecu not sit on top of the battery whilst being isolated by some plywood, and carpet ect?
also, my first impression of a shelf or bracket on the back of the footplate/ cover, would mean that removal of the panel will mean removing the ecu from it each time, and the wiring may not be long enough to leave it attatched to still give access to the battery and fuses.
A box with a drawer arrangement, dont think the wiring to the battery will be forgiving enough to allow the battery much movement, those cables are stiff so and so`s, but perhaps you`ve had a beer to many......... no offense.
with regards to the legroom on the passenger side, I am in the process of making up a kit to place the battery in the boot, as done by a couple of people on here in the past, and this will also come with something to then neatly stow the ecu in the footwell, so if there is enough interest in this I`ll try and get my finger out.
Nope, stone cold sober, mores the pity. But if you could just squeeze a wine cooler in there too, I promise not to let it happen again. Ian, at first I assumed you were after a plate to replace the cover with the carpet stuck to it that sits vertically in front of the battery area,.........
this would be okay, but would need an insulating material glued to the back face of it so that no wiring can be shortened out.
Unc Fester, not so sure about a shelf for the ecu, as things are pretty crammed in down in that area, as others have said, can the ecu not sit on top of the battery whilst being isolated by some plywood, and carpet ect?
also, my first impression of a shelf or bracket on the back of the footplate/ cover, would mean that removal of the panel will mean removing the ecu from it each time, and the wiring may not be long enough to leave it attatched to still give access to the battery and fuses.
A box with a drawer arrangement, dont think the wiring to the battery will be forgiving enough to allow the battery much movement, those cables are stiff so and so`s, but perhaps you`ve had a beer to many
......... no offense.with regards to the legroom on the passenger side, I am in the process of making up a kit to place the battery in the boot, as done by a couple of people on here in the past, and this will also come with something to then neatly stow the ecu in the footwell, so if there is enough interest in this I`ll try and get my finger out.
I have seen this idea of a pull out battery drawer working with an array of batteries providing 24V on some HGV's and buses. It used runners like a metal filing cabinet.
It may be that battery cable hardens and deteriorates with age. Replacing it with newer, more flexible cable with extra length to allow the draw to slide should be fine.
Remember, you're only going to flex it whenever you open and close the drawer. So, only whenever a fuse needs changing and so on. In any case I once saw battery lead as a coil, like a phone cable. No idea where to get it though.
I am given to understand that the ECU loom is quite long as it was originally a Range Rover loom. The extra length is stuffed into the N/S wing and can be pulled out. Can anyone confirm this and how much slack is available?
The biggest electrical headache is probably going to be the fuse box wiring.
Putting the battery in the boot seems worse to me. The weight isn't where you want it. The boot is short of room as it is and you often need boot room. You don't often need battery access. It's just that the original location is a real pain to change one.
Fester
Edited by Uncle Fester on Wednesday 10th October 10:45
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