Bratton's Tool Box

[rfitzpatrick]

They offer a tool box that fits below the radiator and between the frame horns.
Is this a quality tool box? What do you know plz?
TKS

[Oldgearz]

Anxious to hear an answer. If someone makes a really good box for that location, they'd sell a BIG BUNCH of them.

[JayJay]

Just remember that


1. A tool box in that location blocks the crank hole. Maybe not so much of an issue on the road but if you use a crank or a socket to rotate your engine when you're working on it. it can be a pain.


2. Too much weight there may make it harder to steer.

[nkaminar]

There are two different ones, I think. I have the square one, see https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/p...6981&cat=41753.

It bolts to the same hardware that fastens the front irons that the front bumper is mounted to. You just take the 4 nuts off, add the box, and re install the nuts. The box is good quality and the lock is good. It holds a lot of stuff. I used mine for engine oil, parts, coolant, and some rags. The car came with it on and I took it off shortly after that because it looked out of place to me. After running out of room for all my stuff in the trunk I put it back on but have recently taken it off again when I pulled the engine to fix an oil leak. The problem with the box is that you cannot use the hand crank for timing or to start the engine with a weak battery.

If anyone wants to buy my box, I will let it go for $99.99. Pickup only, no shipping.

[ed thibodeau]

I have one that when mounted follows the curve of the frame horn, so the front is
lower than the back. I opened a hole in the back in line with the crank hole with a small
cover over it. Lossen a screw and it swings out of the way and give access to crank
hole and is low enough in the front to clear the crank swing. It was made in lower Mich.
back inthe 90's. and works good.

[bobbader]

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The Bratton's unit is super nice quality and plenty heavy duty. The smaller one whose top matches the top curvature of the fenders is more stylish but has a lot less room. To my knowledge, these smaller ones are no longer made as the fit was difficult if the mounting studs on the car were bent or otherwise mis-aligned. Manufacturer could not figure a way to standardize the mounting to "please" everyone whose studs or front frame horns were "out of whack".

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by ed thibodeau

I have one that when mounted follows the curve of the frame horn, so the front is
lower than the back. I opened a hole in the back in line with the crank hole with a small
cover over it. Lossen a screw and it swings out of the way and give access to crank
hole and is low enough in the front to clear the crank swing. It was made in lower Mich.
back inthe 90's. and works good.

I have the tool box that I believe you are referring to. I get a lot of compliments and questions. And yes, they are no longer being produced. I think they were sold thru Mike's.

[31a]

Mine works great. It takes a little time and patience to mount.

[denis4x4]

1/4’ X 1=1/2” strap and a CRAFTSMAN box with a lift out tray less than $20.

[Bob Bidonde]

Since 2016 I have Bratton's 25080 Tool Box on my Victoria. This tool box is easy to install and it is high quality. The powder coat finish is excellent and durable. Besides being a tool box, it makes a handy seat. The only negatives are the box blocks the use of the hand-crank, the lock lacks a cover to keep water out of it and you need to be more careful when placing a floor jack on the center of the front axle. This rectangular tool box holds considerably more stuff than the contoured tool box.
I keep a bag full of hand tools, a scissor jack, tire irons, an ignition coil, a modern starter drive, a water pump, a fan belt, a set of radiator hoses, a distributor, a distributor body & cap, a tube patch kit, 2 boxes of small parts & hardware, a torque wrench, RainX, jar of Bar's Stop Leak, a multi-meter, a roll of duct tape, rags and paper towels in the box. Using magnets, I attach paperwork to inside of the top including a laminated head torque diagram.

[jak]

i had one mounted on my fordor sedan. I was able to keep a gallon of coolant, and tool box, quart of oil, and lots of other small misc parts and pieces. Some people don't like not being able to get a crank through the crank hole. In the 20 years i had my car i never used the crank to turn the engine over. I used on the nice ratchet nut wrenches (which also fit into the box) to turn the engine for timing. and the one thing people aren't mentioning it makes a nice seat at shows to rest.

[ModelA29]

I don't know who made the one on our car. It looks a little shorter than the Bratons one but still blocks the crank hole. Mounts at side and to center clamp on bumper. It could be a commercially made common box that someone added the brackets to.

[Ruth]

I like the one pictured in post #7. The box shaped ones look out of place and appear to hang down too low. Just my opinion and worth about 1¢.

[The Master Cylinder]

Originally Posted by ModelA29

I don't know who made the one on our car. It looks a little shorter than the Bratons one but still blocks the crank hole. Mounts at side and to center clamp on bumper. It could be a commercially made common box that someone added the brackets to.

Your's appears to be the same a Bob's but is mounted a lot lower. It appears to be lower on one side also, compared to the radiator shell.

[shew01]

Originally Posted by Y-Blockhead

I have the tool box that I believe you are referring to. I get a lot of compliments and questions. And yes, they are no longer being produced. I think they were sold thru Mike's.

Skyler Deviney (an employee of the original manufacturer) built one for me in 11/2020. I don’t know if he still makes them or not.

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[BradinFAT]

ModelA29 I made about 150 of those boxes in Fresno about 20 years ago. Most of them were sold at swap meets and club events. BR

[ModelA29]

Originally Posted by BradinFAT

ModelA29 I made about 150 of those boxes in Fresno about 20 years ago. Most of them were sold at swap meets and club events. BR

My car came from Fresno - so doing the math it must be one you made......
Good job.
My trunk was made by Bill Dohnke of Tres Burros Garage in Fresno.

[BradinFAT]

Thank you. The boxes were powder coated with the same material that Belltech used on their parts. It was the best coating that I could find at the time. Bill Dohnke was out of Porterville and passed in the last 2 years.

[SDJason]

Originally Posted by Y-Blockhead

I have the tool box that I believe you are referring to. I get a lot of compliments and questions. And yes, they are no longer being produced. I think they were sold thru Mike's.

On the off-chance that someone is interested in one, and is near Grand Rapids, there is one for sale (local pickup only) on ebay for $250.

[Synchro909]

I made one like that many years ago. It blends in so well, not many notice it.