im seeing mixed reviews on battery trays. so far, its looking like norms might be the best for the buck. but the cable advertised it comes with, is that both battery cables? some questions i have on these relocation kits..

1) i havent seen on any relocation kit is how the battery stays mounted in place. how does this work out? does it rely on the spare being in place to hold the battery in place? it looks to me that the battery still has room to rattle around. hit a bump or get the car airborn (we all have almost done it), and i see the battery rattling around in there adn no fn coming from the end result. eventually i wont be using the spare in my car, so it will never be in there.

2) will a optima redtop (model # 7586DT) fit under the spare?

3) are top posts or side posts prefered?

4) which actually allows the spare to be used?

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First LX9 Fiero GT, 1987 | My Fiero Fuel Economy | MPG Display for OBD I
Youtube Videos of My GT | 87 GT Inside Test Run | 3500 Fiero GT Test Run 01
3500 Fiero GT Test Run 02 | 3500 Fiero GT Test Run 03 | 3500 Fiero GT Test Run 04
If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem
Fiero's are people too. We pay just as much attention to them, if not more than our loved ones
screw paying those bastards. im not going to become rich by paying for things.....

[This message has been edited by americasfuture2k (edited 04-11-2009).]

I installed an Archie's battery tray under the front "bonnet". It was easy to lay out for the cutting, and I used plenty of sealer between the tray lip and the cut out area under the hood. I'm using an Optima red top w/side terminals (pointed forward). I ran the battery ground to the front suspension. (Also have installed extra ground cables from engine to frame in the rear of the car-- they help alot). I ran the hot lead through some all weather flexible conduit that I bought at Lowe's. The "doughnut" spare fits over the battery nicely and once the brace is installed to hold the spare, the battery is snugg as a bug. I did have to trim a little plastic under the hood to ease installation/removal of the spare. It takes a little jiggling, tilting and pulling/pushing to get the spare in / out, but once you've done it a couple times you get the technique down. Note that the Optima battery also has top terminals, so I left the plastic protectors in place, and the plastic framing/cover thingy that comes with the battery fits on top of the battery ....under the spare. Don't want the top terminals shorting out on anything. The only gripe I have about the battery in front is that it's a pain when you have to use jumper cables. Gotta remove everything to get to the terminals. And you will have to jump that Fiero at some time or another!!!! Hope all this helps and doesn't confuse!
Thanks, Ray.

If you've got a welder, make your own. There's some measurements somewhere on my web site. I did front posts for my last one and mounted the battery so that the posts pointed forward. worked out fine and keeps the stock spare. The hard pars is finding enough #2 welding cable to run from the front to the back. Copper has gotten expensive recently.

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Dave

www.ltlfrari.com

Hello the Optima battery will fit as any stock size battery. The spare tire holds the battery in place quite nicely with no rattling. Have been building these since 1985, they work! Thanks Norm 574-255-7843 www.normsfiberglass.com

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Norm Vandermee

quote Originally posted by fffttt1: a lot of stuff that was written.... Thanks, Ray.

for the jumping thing, i was going to install one of hotrodder battery cutoff switches to make a very easy and quick access point to jump from. i saw it on the forum somewhere before. thought it was genious.

quote Originally posted by ltlfrari: If you've got a welder, make your own. There's some measurements somewhere on my web site. I did front posts for my last one and mounted the battery so that the posts pointed forward. worked out fine and keeps the stock spare. The hard pars is finding enough #2 welding cable to run from the front to the back. Copper has gotten expensive recently.

im working out of an apartment complex one car garage im renting out. so no welder dont wanna risk burning the place down too from welding in this tight fit. ill just go to bubbajuju's house to weld if i need to.

quote Originally posted by normsf: Hello the Optima battery will fit as any stock size battery. The spare tire holds the battery in place quite nicely with no rattling. Have been building these since 1985, they work! Thanks Norm 574-255-7843 www.normsfiberglass.com

rock on norm. i actually tried to call you earlier tonight to ask you some of this. but i guess it was too late. it was around 830 CST.

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First LX9 Fiero GT, 1987 | My Fiero Fuel Economy | MPG Display for OBD I
Youtube Videos of My GT | 87 GT Inside Test Run | 3500 Fiero GT Test Run 01
3500 Fiero GT Test Run 02 | 3500 Fiero GT Test Run 03 | 3500 Fiero GT Test Run 04
If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem
Fiero's are people too. We pay just as much attention to them, if not more than our loved ones
screw paying those bastards. im not going to become rich by paying for things.....

I have one of Norm's battery boxes, and bang for the buck-wise, I do not think his can be beat.

His kit came with cable when I got mine, but I did go out and buy a heavier gauge cable.

Make your own...



And placed under the headlight...


Or, for the front:



Bob

quote Originally posted by RCR: Make your own... Bob

X2

Folks:

Here is mine from West Coast Fiero:





This one is in real carbon fiber; they make it in aluminum also. Spare tire fits fine.

Regards,

David

[This message has been edited by D2inDFW (edited 04-13-2009).]

looks great! but 190 of yalls tax $$'s on a box doesnt sit too well with me.

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First LX9 Fiero GT, 1987 | My Fiero Fuel Economy | MPG Display for OBD I
Youtube Videos of My GT | 87 GT Inside Test Run | 3500 Fiero GT Test Run 01
3500 Fiero GT Test Run 02 | 3500 Fiero GT Test Run 03 | 3500 Fiero GT Test Run 04
If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem
Fiero's are people too. We pay just as much attention to them, if not more than our loved ones
screw paying those bastards. im not going to become rich by paying for things.....

what about keeping it in place WITHOUT a spare tire?

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First LX9 Fiero GT, 1987 | My Fiero Fuel Economy | MPG Display for OBD I
Youtube Videos of My GT | 87 GT Inside Test Run | 3500 Fiero GT Test Run 01
3500 Fiero GT Test Run 02 | 3500 Fiero GT Test Run 03 | 3500 Fiero GT Test Run 04
If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem
Fiero's are people too. We pay just as much attention to them, if not more than our loved ones
screw paying those bastards. im not going to become rich by paying for things.....

Dunno, my spare fits just fine!