Depending on your battery, you can cut the "horizontal" part of the
battery strap out, leaving you with two vertical strips on either side
of the battery that can be pushed down to clear the lid. To remove the
battery, pull the strips back up and grab them with vice grips to yank
the battery. Or make a less rigid strap out of something like nylon
webbing strap. Or there's those battery lifter tools.

James V
86 Syncro Westy