[The_Bishop]

QwikZ28 - I debated doing just that, then I remembered I had those rivnuts so gave that a try.

Blackbirdws6 - Every damned time it seems.

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Well, the Dorman coolant tank came in, and I found out why the battery was slightly taller - There was a protective bit of plastic for shipping on the bottom. Once that came off it dropped into place.

On one hand, I could have made it work without the new tank.

On the other hand, that rust would have been hidden until it was more than just surface rust, so I guess that's a win. Also, the old tank had some mud/sludge in the bottom... The new tank is spotless.

Once the battery dropped all the way in, the top strap I made worked. So now the battery is actually held in by the wedge *and* the top strap so it really isn't going anywhere and hopefully that top strap keeps the front of the battery tray from breaking off.

I also got paranoid about *why* the battery died. The car sat for about 3 1/2 weeks while I was away, but it's sat longer than that during winter and never gave me a problem, so I did the whole inline meter-look for a parasitic draw thing. It takes a *long* time for everything to go to 'sleep' in the car, but once it did the draw was about 30ma, which seems in line with where it should be. Guess the 5 year old battery was just done.

Of course it's raining so no 'test ride'.