My 85 westy is in very good shape and the sticky strips on the lid even has some sticky left to it. I still have the hold down clamp but don't use it since the battery in there is a tight fit. The batty is a booger to get in & out with  little room for the cables to get out of the way.

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
To: vanagon <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Fri, May 11, 2018 10:58 am
Subject: Friday survey for Westy owners

Okay folks, I'm curious about something. How many of you camper/Weekender owners have unmolested battery boxes behind the passenger seat? How many intact boxes have you seen? I’m not going to bother to ask how many still have the battery hold down clamp.

The box on my ’84 was fine because I bought it when it was only two years old, and I’m not an idiot. But, both my son’s ’87 and my current ’85 have butchered boxes. Mine is sawed 3” down both sides for easy bending (hard on the carpet), and my son’s box back edge was hammered into oblivion. 

It’s too bad Westfalia Werks didn’t put an instruction label on the battery cover, it was a terrible oversight. 😉

Stuart