Battery in trunk, More on my 914 / Ax project car Options

[bfrymire]

Always seems to be something fix or upgrade. Neverending. But, we all like that right?

So, I wanted to move the battery into the trunk, and at the same time, use a AGM battery (26lbs vs 36lbs).

Well, here it is mounted using the billet mount. The PO cut a hole in the trunk for starter access, so, I decided to put this to use. (Yes, I do plan to clean up the hole.)



Someone else did something simliar, and I had asked about the wires that normaly attach to the positive post. So, I used a battery bulkhead connector and attached the wires using that. You can see it in this photo next to the petronix.

Here's the post unmounted.



Inside engine bay.



More in next post....

(Still have to fix that big hole in the firewall, put new bars and shocks in the front, and fix an engine miss. <sigh> Don't think I am going to make the AX this weekend...)

-- brett

[bfrymire]

And here's a picture of the bulkhead inside the trunk and the wiring.



-- brett

[Cap'n Krusty]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't you want the weight between the axles and as low as possible?

The Cap'n

[bfrymire]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't you want the weight between the axles and as low as possible?

The Cap'n

Yes. I wanted the battery out of the engine compartment. I was aware of the placement, and just picked a good place to mount. Ideally, it should be moved forward more. (And no, I don't want to put it in the front trunk.)

The next step after this, is to corner balance the car. I still plan to make adjustments, such as moving the battery around if need be.

Thanks for the comment. (Good point!)

-- brett

[brant]

brett,

914's are tail heavy... even stock... especially as race cars.
to be more balanced, you want to move weight forward from stock
batteries in the cockpit or front trunk are really a step in the right direction when it comes to optimum corner balancing.

[bfrymire]

brett,

914's are tail heavy... even stock... especially as race cars.
to be more balanced, you want to move weight forward from stock
batteries in the cockpit or front trunk are really a step in the right direction when it comes to optimum corner balancing.

Agreed. I had a choice of here or in the passenger compartment. But, I still don't like long leads from the battery to the starter. Electrical problems are not fun. I used to have a Datsun 510 for Ax, and had moved the battery to the trunk. It worked, but it was one very long cable. I remember getting a 2 gauge cable to keep the resistance down. That of course, added weight. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I will play with the location a little, but I just choose a good place that was easy to install as the place to put it.

Thanks for the advice.

--brett

[Elliot Cannon]

Put it here.

[davesprinkle]

You should put it here.

[Cap'n Krusty]

It just occurred to me that you've placed the battery directly above the muffler, one of the hottest places in the car. Even more "not good" than I previously thought. As for the cable issue, welding shops have a nice selection of more-cable-than-you'll-ever-need, as well as a choice of crimped on ends that will suit your needs perfectly. Electrical issues involving battery to starter issues then become the last thing you'll ever have to think about.

The Cap'n

[Silverstreak]

Put it here.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) Bring some weight to the front, already plenty in the rear. Bring balance to the force you will.

[J P Stein]

It's been 5 years since I stuck this here. @11lbs you can put it where ever you want. I could have put it in the front trunk but the cabling would weigh as much as the battery. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) This makes for very convenient runs for the various wires....like the main feed for the MSD & starter/charging. Bout ready for a new one, me thinks.

[bfrymire]

It's been 5 years since I stuck this here. @11lbs you can put it where ever you want. I could have put it in the front trunk but the cabling would weigh as much as the battery. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) This makes for very convenient runs for the various wires....like the main feed for the MSD & starter/charging. Bout ready for a new one, me thinks.

Part of what I am working toward is a ligther car, and simplification. Short wires = both.

I do like your placement better than mine, and that is an easy fix.

As far as heat from the muffler, probably still less than being in the engine bay. I can place a probe and measure it.

-- brett

[Elliot Cannon]

It's been 5 years since I stuck this here. @11lbs you can put it where ever you want. I could have put it in the front trunk but the cabling would weigh as much as the battery. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) This makes for very convenient runs for the various wires....like the main feed for the MSD & starter/charging. Bout ready for a new one, me thinks.

That car is so cool, it doesn't matter where the battery goes. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

[URY914]

Put it on the pasenger side floor. That is as low as you can go and keeps the cables short and counters the weight of the driver. Needless to say that is where mine is...... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[PeeGreen 914]

Put it on the pasenger side floor. That is as low as you can go and keeps the cables short and counters the weight of the driver. Needless to say that is where mine is...... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

With the type of battery you have you could just put it lower on the rail as well. Much better for balancing. I was going to relocate mine behind the passenger seat but I never got around to it.

[bfrymire]

It's been 5 years since I stuck this here. @11lbs you can put it where ever you want. I could have put it in the front trunk but the cabling would weigh as much as the battery. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) This makes for very convenient runs for the various wires....like the main feed for the MSD & starter/charging. Bout ready for a new one, me thinks.

I almost bought the 680 instead of the 925, as I wasn't sure if it would crank the motor over. Obviously, I should have got the 680. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

-- brett

[bfrymire]

Put it on the pasenger side floor. That is as low as you can go and keeps the cables short and counters the weight of the driver. Needless to say that is where mine is...... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

With the type of battery you have you could just put it lower on the rail as well. Much better for balancing. I was going to relocate mine behind the passenger seat but I never got around to it.

And I bet the 680 would fit. The 925 was too big.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

Maybe I should move this battery to the street car and get the 680 for this car.

-- brett

[Cap'n Krusty]

It's been 5 years since I stuck this here. @11lbs you can put it where ever you want. I could have put it in the front trunk but the cabling would weigh as much as the battery. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) This makes for very convenient runs for the various wires....like the main feed for the MSD & starter/charging. Bout ready for a new one, me thinks.

Part of what I am working toward is a ligther car, and simplification. Short wires = both.

I do like your placement better than mine, and that is an easy fix.

As far as heat from the muffler, probably still less than being in the engine bay. I can place a probe and measure it.

-- brett

With the lid on, it gets REALLY hot, much hotter than the original location. The Cap'n

[race914]

It's been 5 years since I stuck this here. @11lbs you can put it where ever you want. I could have put it in the front trunk but the cabling would weigh as much as the battery. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) This makes for very convenient runs for the various wires....like the main feed for the MSD & starter/charging. Bout ready for a new one, me thinks.

Part of what I am working toward is a ligther car, and simplification. Short wires = both.

I do like your placement better than mine, and that is an easy fix.

As far as heat from the muffler, probably still less than being in the engine bay. I can place a probe and measure it.

-- brett

With the lid on, it gets REALLY hot, much hotter than the original location. The Cap'n

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) with the Cap'n. I mistakenly left a Tyvek car cover in the trunk for a track event, and areas touching the trunk floor melted.

My battery is mounted in the front trunk like Elliot's above, only difference is I use a small battery similar to this to save weight.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.performancedistributors.com-5027-1272203861.1.jpg)

I'm using the welding cable approach as the Cap'n suggested and have no issues what-so-ever with this setup. The cable adds weight, but it is as low as you can get and in the middle of the car.

Hope this info helps. Just trying to share a successful setup and lessons learned with the car cover in the trunk.

[watsonrx13]

Put it here.

Elliot, where did you run the battery cable?

Any problems/issues with running the cable underneath the car?

-- Rob