I'm probably missing something obvious and simple, but I'm exhausted and sleep deprived . Just about finished relocating the battery, and tried to put the spare tire back in, but it doesn't fit. I don't think I could even cram it in there if I tried without breaking the fiberglass. It's an Archie battery box, 75 series battery (original Fiero size). I did put it in so the longer side is on the bottom, as per the instructions.

[This message has been edited by RWDPLZ (edited 06-27-2012).]

I have Norm's battery box. I couldn't get my spare in, either.
Went to the store and bought a kit that contains a compressor and a can of Slime.
I added a set of plugs and plug tools to the kit.

I have 13" brakes, so my spare wasn't going to work anyway.

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Raydar
88 Formula IMSA Fastback. 4.9, NVG T550

Praise the Lowered!

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 02-22-2012).]

I have three battery boxes from Norm and all of my spare tires fit.

Nelson

I have Archie's battery box in my 88 and it works fine. Spare tire was not an easy fit with my optima red top.
I have a Subaru thin spare tire that is much taller because I needed something to work with 12 inch Vette rotors. It barely goes in and out but it fits. The hood closes but its very close.

quote Originally posted by IXSLR8: I have Archie's battery box in my 88 and it works fine. Spare tire was not an easy fit with my optima red top. I have a Subaru thin spare tire that is much taller because I needed something to work with 12 inch Vette rotors. It barely goes in and out but it fits. The hood closes but its very close.

Interesting. My old battery was an Interstate. In retrospect, it may have been larger than stock. Unfortunately (or fortunately) it died.
My replacement for that is a yellow top Optima. It might even be taller than the Interstate.

What Subaru is your spare from? Think it will fit over 13" rotors and 88 calipers?

Hello, just below the air conditioner box, you will see the plastic wheel well tray it sticks out about a 1 1/2" What I do is trim that excess plastic back with a grinder, the flat portion in a semi circle arch so the tire can slide bye it. Not that hard and you should always use the spare tire as its a vital part of the frontal impact protection zone.

Even if you have larger brakes. The Spare tire can be bolted on backwards. I think West Coast Fieros sells a spare wheel that has the inner wheel center has been cut out and rewelded in a reversed postion. Thanks Norm




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Norm Vandermee

[This message has been edited by normsf (edited 02-23-2012).]

Yea ive had the same problem with mine, but I could get it in there it was just a huge pain every time. I got tired of dealing with it so I just left my spare tire out. I may try triming it now and see if that works. Thanks Norm

My IMSA has the front battery box. Once I took the spare out to replace the spare tub and replace the battery box, I couldn't get the spare back in. Since the car isn't driven that much, I store the spare tire in the engine bay trunk.

Here's some pics of my battery box install.
I also removed the lip at the back edge of the well.

From my Getrag thread...

quote Norm's battery box is installed. It's not quite as easy as the instructions would lead you to believe. They mention nothing about an '88. The earlier cars just place the box between the brackets that hold the hydraulic lines. Relocation of the lines is required. OTOH, the 88 has the hydraulic lines behind the crossmember. So far so good. The 88 coolant pipes, however, go straight up the middle of the front suspension. The right coolant pipe is in the way. The box can't be moved to the left because there is a mount cast into the top of the rack. The only options are to remove that mount from the rack or to bend the coolant pipe down a bit in the front. I was able to persuade the pipe downwards a small amount, but it's still an interference fit, against the bottom of the box. That being the case, I just used foam tape around the edges of the battery box, and have it screwed into the tire well. Until I bend the pipe some more, I may have to remove the box to get the radiator hose off.

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 02-23-2012).]

I have Norm's battery box. In the instructions, it describes how to center the box correctly, and how to make the relief cut in the back of the spare tire well. If you follow the directions, the spare tire will fit (but just barely).

I decided to make things easier, by using a smaller battery. I used a Group 51 battery (commonly used in Honda Civic). It also has top posts, instead of those annoying side posts. It's also about 5 pounds lighter than the Fiero battery.

quote Originally posted by Raydar: I have Norm's battery box. I couldn't get my spare in, either.

Same here but I didn't make the cut because my front trunk was carpeted already. After over 7yrs I have never had a flat tire and I have taken many long trips. Key item for me is always tring to have almost new tires. Helps a lot to doge those little pointy critters

Hello, something like this is nice. Though to be honest I stress using the front spare only because of its value in a frontal impact, plus its better to have the weight up front for the Fiero. Thanks again guys Norm

I normally use Optima Red Tops in my cars with Norm's battery box and everything is tight but fits. I have just recently been told that there are two different size Optima Red Tops so there may be an issue with the larger one. I recently went to an Optima Yellow Top in an 88 and the spare would not fit then. A battery box swap to a slightly larger one was then made and the spare tire now fits. Appropriate battery selection may be the key to resolving this problem.

Nelson

quote Originally posted by normsf: Hello, Also from looking at your first picture at the top of the page, it looks as though your box is off center not even inbetween the humps nor Im sure in between the lower brake line brackets. This will result in the spare not going over the battery evenly. notice in the below picture the cuts are inbetween the brake line bracket rivits. Hope this helps, thanks Norm

That's possible, I used the drain hole as the centerline and measured off of it, and then kept cutting more and more and more out trying to get the box to fit. The tub not being flat where the tray goes in doesn't help, either.

I was thinking about trimming that lip back too if nobody had any better ideas, so worst case I'll just have to do that.

Thanks for all the responses, I'll work on it some more tomorrow

I moved the tray over an inch to the driver's side, and trimmed some of that lip, and the spare tire fits now, thanks!

Yea i had the same problem, I couldn't get the battery to fit, because I had the battery installed the wrong way, with the side posts facing the back of the car. Even when I flipped it, still didn't fit, and I chopped that lip down at the bottom alot. I said screw it and left the spare out. There is also a fire extinguisher there now as well. In my current project, instead of messing around with that crap (IMO) again, I put the battery tray under the passenger headlight. So far I'm liking it much better.

[This message has been edited by mattwa (edited 02-25-2012).]

Another thing you can do if you have the tray a little off location, or don't want trim the lip, or if you have carpet in the front compartment, is to grab that plastic handle on the Battery & pick it up a little as you drop the spare down in.



Archie

With these battery trays, can you still screw your jack back in the correct location and also be able to still store your sunroof up front?

Hello and to answer. Yes and Yes, when done it will look stock when you open the hood. thanks Norms

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Norm Vandermee

A 1g Miata battery is my go battery on projects. Its the smallest "real" automotive battery available and has normal battery warranties. Pop that in there, you wont have to worry about it clearing. They are a bit expensive, but I use them all the time as a mini-battery.

Is your battery installed laying on it's side?
Is that even safe?
I have Norms box in a few cars and the spare fits in all.

no idea who made my battery box, but i drilled holes in mine so the battery terminal's could be put through the holes, this way the battery can sit all the way forward and the spare tire has plenty of room.

matthew

quote Originally posted by memorybike: With these battery trays, can you still screw your jack back in the correct location and also be able to still store your sunroof up front?

YES

quote Originally posted by normsf: Hello, something like this is nice. Though to be honest I stress using the front spare only because of its value in a frontal impact, plus its better to have the weight up front for the Fiero. Thanks again guys Norm

This looks awesome, is it carpeted?

Hello, not my car just the box and yes its carpeted. Thanks Norm

I solved the problem by mounting a 995 amp battery in the trunk with a false floor.

Arn