OK, I posted this in tech a different way. It's all in how you ask. Could I see your guys front battery relocation shots and opinions about choice of battery? p.s. I gotta V8 w/ mini starter.
IP: Logged
08:09 PM
PFF
System Bot
Feb 22nd, 2003
85GTV84FUN Member
Posts: 351 From: Salisbury Mills,NY,USA Registered: Jan 2003
The battery is sitting in a fiberglass tray similar to what archie sells, I don't carry a spare tire as it won't fit over my brakes. otherwise the spare tire easilty fits over the battery. I'm using a stock size fiero battery on a 355 TPI V-8 with no problems.
I'd think the upper passenger side step of the trunk would be a great place to mount a battery...same width and length as the battery tray and that much closer to the origional battery location. This is all in my opinion.
OK, Bump it up, I know here are a few more guys out here that have front batt installs worth showing. If not you'll be seeing my best shot at it in a few weeks.
Here's a photo of mine. It's a homemade fiberglass box similar to what Archie sells. I will eventually clean up the front area and get a battery that doesn't have both side and top terminals. This is my project car -- an 85GT and it has aways to go before it's on the road as a daily driver. http://www.bramblett.com/stuff/02-01-030009.jpeg
Here is a couple pics of mine. The box is from West Coast Fiero. The spare tire fits over the battery, so it's normally completely out of sight when you open the hood.
Here is a pic of the radiator side of the box.
Here is my original post that showed the installation. Ignore the stupid part where I tried to first put in a top post battery.
Can you still put a sunroof in with that cover on??? ( I don't know if you have one or not, just asking. )
He has no roof! It's a 355 convertible replica. And a very sweet one, I might add. I like how the battery is mounted. I might try it that way instead of under the spare.
------------------
IP: Logged
10:00 PM
Tina Member
Posts: 2858 From: At an elevation of 8564 feet. Registered: Nov 2000
Battery is directly below the viewing window. Jump start connector is located in the trunk.
No cracks about my hamsterwheel either please. Comes in real handy when somebody silly enough thinks I have engine problem just because the front hood is open.
Tina BTW JD86GT350 if you have a better pic than that could you send it to me. Could really use one
The sunroof did fit in the nose on top of the gas tank and battery minus the cover, when I still had a roof The sunroof wouldn't fit with the cover in place, well it might fit if you put it in upside down and not attached.
PS Thanks Sqoach
IP: Logged
08:33 AM
LS1swap Member
Posts: 1181 From: McHenry,IL.USA Registered: Jan 2001
Here is mine... No cutting necessary. Just flip the spare over and fabricate a plate for the bottom. Just keep the cable long enough to set the battery on the radiator. For removing the spare.
Ok now all you guys got me thinking about doing this. My battery box rotted out in the back, so I ran to Canadian Tire and picked up a marine battery box. It completly seals the battery and has 2 holes for the cables to come out of. Currently it is mounted in the trunk.
I want to know how much of a pain it is to wire your front mount battery. Are you using a front frame ground and then only running the hot lead back to the starter, what kinda cable are you using. I think I have a good 4-5 cables running to my battery. A 3 diffrent ground cables, and hot leads for the power block, hot lead to the starter, hot lead for my stereo system and amps. Oh and one last set of Direct to battery is my MSD 6AL box.
Have you noticed any charging problems.
------------------ David hotrodfiero@shaw.ca 85GT 2.9 4spd www.david.westcoastfieros.com
I didn't find it that hard to wire in my front mounted battery. If you scroll up and look at the radiator side of my battery, you'll see that I used gold Street Wire connectors that allow multiple cables. The pic shows a 2 gauge hot cable going to the starter and a fused 8 gauge hot wire going to my stereo amp. I have a 2 gauge negative cable going back to the engine block and a short 6 gauge cable grounded to the frame. Not shown since it was added after that pic was taken is another fused 8 gauge hot wire that goes to my driving lights via a relay. The 2 and 6 gauge cables are heavy duty welding wire cable that can be bought in bulk at your local farm/ranch shop or welding supply outlet or larger hardware stores.
[This message has been edited by batboy (edited 02-26-2003).]
IP: Logged
01:37 PM
PFF
System Bot
California Kid Member
Posts: 9541 From: Metro Detroit Area, Michigan Registered: Jul 2001
It's not front, but this may give some of the V8 conversion guys another avenue. It helps even out the weight distribution in the rear, along with packaging you air intake on the other side.
...I want to know how much of a pain it is to wire your front mount battery...
I used #2 welding cable to run a hot back to the starter, and grounded the negative under a front end mounting bolt. Incidentally I did something you might want to think about. I mounted one of those "power points" (common on '89 & later GM sedans) on the front wall of my now-empty battery tray. I ran the former positive cable to this point & extended the small hot wire so I can route it neatly under the old battery box. This gives you an accessible power tap in the back, as well as a jump point should you ever run down your battery.
