2000 Tundra Battery Bracket Issue

Previous owner did not have the battery retention bracket installed, allowing the battery to slide forward enough to strike the inside edge of the upper inner fender. Over time this sliced a hole into the top of the battery, fluids had been leaking out long enough to eat away down to bare metal. The rust and corrosion is a problem.

I have a new battery, battery tray, etc. and am working on getting this all into place but the rust and corrosion is worrying. I want to remove the metal bracket, clean and paint it as well as the inner fender underneath.





I pulled every bolt near this bracket and noticed very small spot welds around the perimeter. Three along the edge closest to the radiator, three outboard and one at the inboard firewall corner. I can reach these welds with a drill easily enough to cut out the welds but I am concerned there may be more spot welds hiding inboard, facing the engine. I would only be able to reach these from outside the vehicle with the driver's side wheel off.

This one repair is turning into a whole can of worms and I haven't found any information on this particular issue. Does anyone have input or advice?

 

Why not just wire wheel the heck out of it and prime and repaint that area?

(Not sure about the answer to your actual question, OP!)

 

I realize I didn't spell that out! My issue is the corrosion under the battery bracket. I can't reach it without removing the bracket which seems to be welded in. I've encountered issues like this over the years and I always end up either ignoring it or having to remove the part that's in the way.