Watch your battery tray. many know this... but my 83 never had a problem. The 85 has a tiny bit of rust underneath (Ill take my 83's tray after a hearty POR15 or rustbullet application), but Ive caught it soon enough, I believe.

The tray was lie swiss cheese:


And the underneath looked like this:


JMH

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Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)

I painted on rust killing paint on mine then sprayed it with rubberized undercoating spray. Should hold up for several years.

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Ill do that with the good one from my 83 before I install it. good idea - thanks!

JMH

__________________
Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)

Yep, the tray on the '86 was disintegrated. I think that all of them need attention sooner or later.

One of these days I'm going to bite the bullet, order a NEW battery tray and a license plate bracket.

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

Randolph makes an acid proof paint specifically for battery boxes. Available at aircraft supply houses.

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cspages/acidproofpaint.php