Battery in the trunk?

entropy · #1 (**permalink**) 02-25-2007, 12:44 PM

I am about to TRY to mount my CRII body onto the frame, but I realized that it will be difficult to get to the battery. Has anyone installed their battery in the trunk. If so, what is involved?

Thanks,
Howard

lineslinger · #2 (**permalink**) 02-25-2007, 04:34 PM

entropy,
You may want to try a search on battery placement or battery location, battery box, running battery cable, something along those lines. I have seen a lot of pics of where guys have placed their battery's in the trunk but nothing specific to Classic Roadsters.
Most designs are reasonably similar, you should be able to locate some good ideas/pictures. Good Luck

MaSnaka · #3 (**permalink**) 02-25-2007, 05:04 PM

My CRII has the battery in the trunk. I didn't put it there as I am the 3rd owner of the car. It's located inside the passenger side wheel well. Held in place by a steel bracket. The cables go through the trunk floor. A short cables grounds to the chassis just under the trunk, a much longer cable runs to the starter selenoid. I think it's called a selenoid. It's not attached to the started directly. The battery posts have conectors with wing nuts so disconnecting is very easy. Two bolts and the braket is loose. I will be changing to a closed cell battery eventually (Optima). Any questions let me know. John

fastraxsg · #4 (**permalink**) 02-25-2007, 09:21 PM

There are a number of phot0s on this site of Cobra's with batteries in the trunk area. I moved mine to the trunk about two years ago because of the under hood heat. The main concerns are getting the battery mounted safely so its not going to hop around and that your positive cable is of sufficent diameter, usually a #1 or # 2 cable, don't go cheap, use the biggest cable you can afford/find. I also went with a sealed battery, in my case Delkor made locally but an Optima is the one of the best. You don't have to keep checking the water level with these. There are some pretty fancy billet holders made for them too, see www.billetspecialties.com for a nice one, starts around $79 . I bought a Kit from Summitt, came with the wires, battery terminals and marine case, was on a one day sale, think they run about $50 usually. So far, no problem as long as you have a good chassis ground and watch where you route the cables to the front. Avoid heat and sharp edges, don't let it flop around. SAme with the battery, must be secure but not so tight you crack the edges. I also put a cut off switch in the ground line to the chassis as a extra thieft stopper. I have also seen guys mounting the battery behind the driver's seat, infront of roll bars, sealed battery only. Good luck

Andrew Teal · #5 (**permalink**) 02-25-2007, 11:14 PM

John,
I think fastratxsg had some good ideas. I have a 1993 Classic with two optima mount in the right side of the trunk. Theres room to put a plate under the trunk to bolt the battery case to so if you get hit it doesn:t pull the the bolts thru the friberglass. A cut off switch is a good safety idea to cut the power if you get a short etc,etc. Also a #1 or #2 cable so you dont lose volts to the engine.

Andy

entropy · #6 (**permalink**) 02-26-2007, 06:29 PM

Thanks to all who replied to my question! I have another related question. Is the positive cable run under the carpet, alone the frame?
Thanks again,
Howard

MaSnaka · #7 (**permalink**) 02-26-2007, 06:36 PM

Mine pos cable runs along the frame but under the floor not under the carpet. I like the idea of a cut off switch. Where did you guys locate it? Thanks John

Andrew Teal · #8 (**permalink**) 02-26-2007, 10:17 PM

I ran my battery cable down the inside frame rail on my classic. I put the cutoff switch in the top of the frender, alot of people put the cutoff switch by the rear bumper right side.

Andy

lineslinger · #9 (**permalink**) 02-26-2007, 11:09 PM

It may not be a good idea to advertise where your cutoff switch is located. There are a lot of smart people that watch this site.

Andrew Teal · #10 (**permalink**) 02-27-2007, 12:32 AM

Your right, I guess I dont think in those terms, I have other safety items to keep someone from stealing the car, good thought .

Andy

fastraxsg · #11 (**permalink**) 02-27-2007, 05:04 AM

Mine is in the trunk between the battery and the ground. Bought a high quality switch from Watson's. Under lock and key to avoid anyone getting to it, if they break into the trunk, they're going to get the car no matter what.

Of course, its not much to look at now anyway.
For the folks who put their cut off switch outside, they usually race and switchs have to be outside and clearly marked for corner workers in case of an accidient. There is another thread on CC about where cutoff switchs are, pros and cons, do a search and you should find it. Best close at hand where you can reach it in case you are upside down, along with a fire extinquisher. HOpefully that will never happen to any of us.

fastraxsg · #12 (**permalink**) 02-27-2007, 05:08 AM

Andy, how about posting some pictures of that brute of an engine you have along with the car?

427 S/O · #13 (**permalink**) 02-27-2007, 05:22 AM

Check my gallery, mounted BB on frame first....

fastraxsg · #14 (**permalink**) 02-27-2007, 07:40 AM

427 S/O That's a nice looking frame and layout, looks like you did a lot of "reconsturction" and it turned out great. So how does it run today, still got the same induction? the battery box looks neat, how does if fit in the trunk, does the floor have a cut out for it or is it hidden? Have to find a place that has spare aircraft parts laying around to source one on those. Any current photos?

427 S/O · #15 (**permalink**) 02-27-2007, 10:14 AM

Fits fine, drilled holes in the fiberglass after body was mounted. Yeah, still running the inlines.

Thanks

Excaliber · #16 (**permalink**) 02-27-2007, 10:49 AM

Mine is in the trunk, with TWO heavy gauge wires. One goes to the solenoid (positive) and the other (negative) to the engine directly. You can indeed run a short wire from negative to FRAME for ground, but you also need a fairly substantial wire from ENGINE to FRAME in that case.

In my case, two BIG wires direct to the solenoid\engine, I need a much smaller ordinary ground wire from the engine to frame for my accessories, like fan, headlights etc.