Battery Relocation ?'s

SeventyMach1 · Mar 26, 2006

Okay ... I just got a red top Optima (thanks for the help Ernan ... the 34/78 is great). I notched the factory tray (which is now busted up where the bottom bolt goes). I don't have a "hold down" yet .... and I really needed to extend the cables since the posts are narrower.

So now I'm considering putting it in the trunk. I don't feel like paying $190 for a relocation kit.

1.) Is it true that you don't need a battery box with these batteries?

2.) What exactly all do I need to mount & wire this thing into the trunk?

SM0k3 · Mar 26, 2006

interested in this too.....subscribing.

Monsterbishi · Mar 26, 2006

ok, the general rule is that if the battery is a gel-cell type/SLA(sealed lead acid) - then you do not require a closed battery box since there is nowhere for battery acid to leak from.

If you move it to the trunk, keep in mind the extra weight gained from the cable too.

Edit: If you mount the battery in the trunk without a box, check with your local laws as to the standard of bolt/strap required to hold it down the the body.

HISSIN50 · Mar 26, 2006

Justin, if you wanted, you could use a marine battery box (under 10 bucks at wally mart). You could trim-it-out nicely I bet (cover it in vinyl, red crushed velvet velour, etc).

Just an option.

Good luck mang.

SeventyMach1 · Mar 26, 2006

That's a good idea JT .... Thanks, I'll see what I can find & fab up.

Now for the wiring part .... anyone know what I need to get? And a how-to would be great!

94GTLaserRC · Mar 26, 2006

I would not take a chance with it back there...ALWAYS err on the side of caution. Good choice with the battery selection.
RC

ES Stangin · Mar 26, 2006

I just installed the Summit battery relocation kit in my trunk. I have an Optima, and wasnt worried about IHRA/NHRA rules so the Summit kit worked well, since it came with all of the cable, ends, box, etc. The only thing is that I have to figure out a way to tie the battery down, since the supplied bracket doesnt fit along the sides of my Optima while in the box, and I don't trust the box the keep the battery in.

bimmertech · Mar 26, 2006

i bought the taylor box with 1 gauge cable and vented box for $120. only way to fly.

95strokerPSU · Mar 26, 2006

I bought this battery hold down and will just be going to a welding supply store and picking up some 1/0 cable and lugs to put it in the trunk.

95cobraguy · Mar 26, 2006

i use the same optima battery in a upr box in the trunk. wiring is straightforward, i ran the positive from the trunk, under all carpet and rear sear delete, and through the hole in the firewall where the cruise control vacuum hose was (deleted cruise control also) and connected it right to the underhood fuse box. for the ground i used the factory ground cable, its a double ground. the big ground i ran through a hole in the trunk an bolted it to a bolt near the quad schock bracket. the small one i just grounded to the stud that runs through the trunk that mounts the box. i have an almost brand new battery tray if anyone needs it.

SeventyMach1 · Mar 26, 2006

Thanks for the input guys.

Did any of you have to drop the gas tank for the install?

SM0k3 · Mar 26, 2006

might be doing this soon. Anyone know what gauge the positive wire is?, need to buy that and the ends.

95cobraguy · Mar 26, 2006

no need to drop gas tank, just need to be careful when drilling the holes in the trunk. the upr kit i bought came with all the cables, i think it came with 4 gauge wire. i ended up using the factory ground cable and modified it to make it work.

Hoytster · Mar 26, 2006

SM0k3 said:
might be doing this soon. Anyone know what gauge the positive wire is?, need to buy that and the ends.

I know the summit kit I bought came with 2 guage cable. I wouldn' go any smaller than that for the length of cable needed to go from the trunk to the engine bay.

tomustang · Mar 26, 2006

Monsterbishi said:
Edit: If you mount the battery in the trunk without a box, check with your local laws as to the standard of bolt/strap required to hold it down the the body.

Local laws might also stay it's fully illegal to put the battery in trunk, no matter what

SM0k3 · Mar 26, 2006

tomustang said:
Local laws might also stay it's fully illegal to put the battery in trunk, no matter what

word, technically anything changed much from the way it came from the factory isnt legal, but i dont think anyone is that much of a dick haha

tomustang · Mar 26, 2006

SM0k3 said:
word, technically anything changed much from the way it came from the factory isnt legal, but i dont think anyone is that much of a dick haha

so true

what NON-auto technical people (lawmakers) are trying to throw at everyone is that battery = spark and spark closer to a gas tank is bad

SeventyMach1 · Mar 26, 2006

Haha ... I better relocate my coil pack to the interior console .... it's too close to the fuel lines in the engine bay, lol.

go-stang5.0 · Mar 28, 2006

I gott the jegs or summit kit back when they just came out and were selling it for $25 bux. I thought it was a sweet deal. I mean you cant even get 20' of 2 ga. cable for that much now a days. Although I dont really like the plastic box, I'm still running it and I road raced with it once so far however they didn't like it too much at tech. I need to get a nice sturdy metal box. But yea I ran the main fuse box wire to the starter and the wire from the battery to the starter underneath the car through a hole in the trunk. Been working good for a while now.

gustang818 · Mar 28, 2006

I got the Summit kit and didn't like the plastic box much either. The rest of the kit worked great. I had a piece of thin guage channel iron laying around that I notched, bent and welded into a battery tray. I welded the studs from the kit onto it, painted it up and bolted it into the trunk. I would (and did) drop the tank before doing any drilling through the trunk floor pan. The tank is pretty tight to the pan as the previous owner of my car found out. He put three sheet metal screws through the tank when installing his amp in the trunk.

EDIT: I have an Optima battery also. I wouldn't use a wet cell in the trunk unless it was fully enclosed and vented.

Battery Relocation ?'s

SeventyMach1

Keep it lubed .... keep it straight .... and keep

SM0k3

Monsterbishi

Member

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

SeventyMach1

Keep it lubed .... keep it straight .... and keep

94GTLaserRC

Squint as you approach, lest you be blinded by my

ES Stangin

New Member

bimmertech

New Member

95strokerPSU

Member

95cobraguy

Member

SeventyMach1

Keep it lubed .... keep it straight .... and keep

SM0k3

95cobraguy

Member

Hoytster

I don't dare do that to my Knob

tomustang

Psychotic Member

SM0k3

tomustang

Psychotic Member

SeventyMach1

Keep it lubed .... keep it straight .... and keep

go-stang5.0

New Member

gustang818

New Member

Similar threads

Battery Relocation ?'s

Keep it lubed .... keep it straight .... and keep

Member

"How long does it take to get help in here?

Keep it lubed .... keep it straight .... and keep

Squint as you approach, lest you be blinded by my

New Member

New Member

Member

Member

Keep it lubed .... keep it straight .... and keep

Member

I don't dare do that to my Knob

Psychotic Member

Psychotic Member

Keep it lubed .... keep it straight .... and keep

New Member

New Member

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency