battery tray rehab

So I'm restoring things as I go along and now I'm at the battery tray .Well anyone who has removed one of these and realises that NOS replacements are almost impossible to find what do you do but restore your old one . I pulled mine out (94 wagon) and luckily it was still in what I would term OK condition . I'm a detail freak , ask my wife, so I blasted it and was not happy with the rough look on sections that were corroded nothing serious just rough .So I thought why not use JB Weld ? I've applied a skim coat will let it sit overnight then sand it tomorrow I've done this before on parts and the pieces have come out nice with a bit of work . When done I'll give it a couple of coats of Eastwood Chassis Black, glass bead the bolts and put everything back together .

A lot of work, but will turn out nicely, I am sure.

I tend to be more toward durability and ease on my driver Buick, so when I had mine out, I sanded the mild rust and etched it, then coated the whole thing with Hecruliner pickup truck bed liner which should last basically forever based on past history. I also used it on the rocker panels, quarter panel bottom edges and wheel lips, all of which I have done on vehicles for years, so no rock chips.

While you have the battery tray out, redo the wheelhouse under it. That takes as much abuse as the battery tray itself.

That's on my list I've picked up a drivers side replacement (accident damage ) and the only spot on the passenger side is under the battery as far as I can see hopefully it's just surface and not rotted through . . Called my powdercoater and he gave me a price of 75 to 100 bucks apiece to coat these he blasts these before applying the powder coat so the metal has to be in decent shape if not I'll go on the hunt to find a rust free replacement .

You could have a piece welded in, if it is rusted through. It would be cheaper than getting another and shipping it (about $130).