So, I got a new battery that's too tall to fit with the rain tray in (mine's cracked anyway). Is the tray really necessary? Tell me if I'm an idiot for removing it, please.

Depends on how much your car will be in the rain.

California coast?

I'd just get the proper battery.

P.S. I have an IMMACULATE early rain tray available if anyone is interested. New, in the box with Porsche sku stickers.

/6's never had a rain tray.

If you have an Optima or other fully sealed battery, and rainshields if you are running any induction with vertical stacks, you shouldn't need a tray. Car will run cooler without it anyway.

But one big the reason 'The Hell Hole' gets that way is rainwater fills the vent holes in the battery, which overflows its acid.

You bought an Optima, right ?

I have DellOrtos with vertical stacks, but they have air cleaners on them. Will rain still get in?

And the battery is just a filler until I get a new one. It's a next-to-new Interstate out of an old dodge caravan. I'm just wondering if I'll have to put the tray back on when I do get the right battery.

You may want to put the tray back in... or get a sealed battery as Rich suggests.

If you don't have watersheds on a 4cyl carb install, you should have the rain tray in place to keep the water from the filter elements. I wouldn't want to have water sitting on my pretty engine anyway, even with no filter issues.

A friend of mine was successful in lightly molding the end of the rain tray to keep it from hitting his optima by heating the end with a heat gun (or was it a torch, lol) and using a large object to mold it slightly once it got to a moldable temperature. Take your time with this project as you can get plastic to a bad state quickly.

It isn't obvious that there was any alteration of the tray without comparing it to an original.

I'd do this only to a non-perfect rain tray.

it did in my car...

had to put it in top gear and push it gently backwards to flush the hydrolocked water out of the cylinders into the exhaust. I was lucky - cars have broken heads, connecting rods, and pistons encountering hydrolock.

Get some proper rain shields. I've actually seen baking pans used and they seemed to work just fine albeit with that certain Rube Goldberg look. Or always carry some trash bags and ALWAYS bag the air cleaners if it looks like rain or the car will be unattended for long periods. (and try to remember to take them back off again before trying to start the car ;-)...)

Pat Garvey has been looking for an early tray Eric, please contact him.

Hook, line and sinker...

It better be as described.

here's what you need for your carbs ...

Eric,

This IS a very cruel joke - right?
Pat

Hmmm, let's see. If you have a four (assumed), then you have all kinds of vital electrics on the motor that are unprotected from the wet elements.

You know Porsche didn't put that tray there for no reason. It rains even in Callyfornyah now and then.

Cracked or not - put it back! (yeah, like it isn't cracked!....)
Pat

You have one?

OR

Doing this just to piss off Garvey?

Hey...I know a guy who needs some 914/6 wheels.....

Now that's a dick.


As for the rain tray, move to AZ. You'll never ask about a rain tray again.

If it doesn't say "1 Stueck", I don't want it!
Pat

I was thinking of making my rain tray removable. I'm planning on leaving it in place most of the time, but I was thinking that it might help cooling a bit on hot days and going over the passes (weather permitting) if I was able to remove it. Am I just being crazy, or does it sound like a reasonable idea?

Rain trays? Naaaaaah, just replace rain trays with garage and all is well

If you have a carbed car that will only be a fair weather driver, I don't see the reason for one. The engine compartment will be cooler w/o the tray.

Zach