Underhood Toolbox.. anyone try it on the GMT900's?

[tesnoboy]

Where is the battery in these new trucks? Up in the back passenger corner like an 8.1 dual battery setup? That's weird if so. I think it would be awkward to get to and jump?

 

 

Battery is against the fire wall on the passanger side, under the hood.

 

Thanks. That is strange though. I wonder why they did that? Like I said I think it would be awkward back there?

 

 

I've read somewhere before they moved it back there to provide power to onstar in the event of a head on collision. It has a better chance of surviving there.

 

Thanks. That actually makes sense. Scary!

[yamahas]

It's true! for Onstar

[tesnoboy]

It's true! for Onstar

 

As long as you don't get T-Boned on the front passenger side.

[mc7719]

In my old '96 Chevy 1500 I had this underhood toolbox of sorts which was so handy to carry around the odd tool I needed, a litre of oil, a rag, tie downs, work gloves... whatever. Like the under hood lamp, I was disappointed to find that GM stopped installing this box, and it just left a gaping hole where the auxiliary battery would sit, if you had that option. (I don't on my '08 Sierra SLT) Wanting to keep everything as OEM as possible, I started looking.

 

I figured out that they only came on '96 and '97 models, and ended up finding ONE, between about three different wreckers.

 

OK, so here it is. $25.

 

And all cleaned up. Yes, its got a small corner damaged, but given how rare these are... I'll live with it!

 

And now lets see if this thing will even FIT into the spare battery space

 

 

Fits just perfect! Took a bit of angling and wiggling, but it fit.

 

However, I can't open the lid. The washer fluid filler cap sticks over the lid, and the diagronal support strut also crosses over so the lid can't be hinged up (Its supposed to open from the left, hinges on the right) But that's it for tonight, will toy with it more tomorrow; its dark and below freezing here. Also, its winter, so please excuse how dirty my engine compartment is ;)

 

OK. First thing is to figure our how to open and close the lid. I cut the 'hinge tabs' that held the lid, to the body. This would allow the lid to lift up and off.

 

 

After trying it out again, the lid can only come up about a quarter-inch (before it hits the washer fluid filler), then you have to slide it out. However, the 'lip' on the lid is catching on the corner that sits under the filler tube. So, got rid of the lip.

[mc7719]

Next, sticking out the bottom of the box is a permanently mount bolt, that originally went through the inner fender of the '97 model (and the nut was affixed in the wheel well). Since this thing is going to sit on the battery tray already present, the bolt is not needed. I thought about drilling a hole in the tray and using it to hold the box down, but where it lines up on the battery tray, you can't get to the other side to fasten a nut. So off it goes.

 

Remember kids.. safety first.

 

Then I ground the stub down. Next, back to the truck for more fitting (After every single step, I went back and re-fitted to make sure, before I cut or ground something off I shouldnt have) One of the mounting holes in the box, meets up with the inner fender nicely (as it was designed to in the '97). So take a felt pen, and marked where to drill.

 

Hole drilled. Rust inhibitor applied.

 

Now you cant get to the other side of theat hole once the box is in place. So, I chose to go with a plastic 'grommet' that spreads apart once a bolt is screwed into it, holding the object, and the grommet in the hole. Maybe not the most indestructible way to do it, but it turned out pretty solid.

 

I then placed the box back in, lined up the side hole with the new hole-and-fastener, and loosely screwed in the bolt. Then I found a spot that would keep the box steady, and that I was able to get at from under the battery tray to screw on a nut.

 

You can see the bolt on the top right of the picture that is screwed into the fastener, in the inner fender. And the bolt that screws down through the battery tray, with a nut on the other side. This aint going anywhere now, and its sitting relatively solid on the battery tray.

 

Place the lid on, just slide it in from the left, and when it's lined up, snap it down.

The clearance under the filler tube is perfect. Almost like it was designed for it....

 

Finished product... looks completely stock.

 

 

Please excuse the filthy engine.. its winter and I haven't cleaned it in months

[kstruckcountry]

Neat project! The '97 3/4 we have has one, unfortunately that truck doesn't get driven enough to use it much. I'd love to have one on my '06, would really come in handy. I might have to make one if I can't find one somewhere.

[Dave4x4]

I don't like the fact of tools under my hood if something bounces out that would suck but it is a cool idea and I would pry make it into a secondary fuse box or put my module for my powersteps in it. Nice write up though

[mc7719]

Yeah I guess that could be a concern. At the moment I have a rag, tie down straps and a pair of work gloves. Handy since I cant put anything in my backseat area as my lab puppy would eat it lol

[BigBlueLB756]

15737693-container (body) $19.16

15740047-cover (lid) $16.91

 

Info only - part numbers and prices were verified today from gm parts direct dot com.

Shipping was not added in, since locations vary.

[latreille89]

I'm going to pick up a new battery box today. Nothing like a bit more storage when you have a RCLB. Anything extra is a plus.

[Wolfmanjohn]

It's true! for Onstar

 

 

The VCIM also has a backup battery (BUB) that is activated until fully discharged in the event it suddenly loses power with the ignition switch in the "on" position, in order to facilitate emergency Onstar communication.

[Quint]

Nice project, mc.

 

The only other thing I can think of to improve it would be to fashion up some sort of way to secure the lid. Not sure I'd trust it to hold in anything like wrenches or a bottle jack, upon a nice bounce or (heaven forbid) a small collision if the lid is just snapped on. Perhaps a couple of small pull-over bungies that's permanently attached to the lid and clips to a tab or hole somewhere on the side of the box.

[mc7719]

Nice project, mc.

 

The only other thing I can think of to improve it would be to fashion up some sort of way to secure the lid. Not sure I'd trust it to hold in anything like wrenches or a bottle jack, upon a nice bounce or (heaven forbid) a small collision if the lid is just snapped on. Perhaps a couple of small pull-over bungies that's permanently attached to the lid and clips to a tab or hole somewhere on the side of the box.

 

 

Yeah, I thought of that as well, its snapped on fairly snug, the left side actually has a 'pull handle' in order to un-snap it... and if I was doing a lot of off-roading, I would prob want it tied down to make sure.

[mc7719]

* merged this topic with the how to section (No need for 2 topics on the same exact subject). Page 2 shows the photos - RYANBABZ71

 

 

This is why I started the new thread as an actual "How-To" post, rather than a question, and asked for the original post to be deleted, not merged.

By mergeing them, It put the actual instructional post at the end of the thread, and the title is not representative of a post in the How-To section.

 

It would sure be easier if we were able to delete our own threads when they are posted in error.

[RyanbabZ71]

When you need to deleted a thread you need to PM a mod. I did not see that note until after I merged them. My apologies.