Yeah, so my battery tray is rusted to all hell as well as a good chunk of the metal underneath where it sat. This leaves me with two options. Either get a battery relocation kit or get a new battery tray. They run about the same price, I just want to know what would be more wise to get. What benefits are there to relocating the battery from its stock location? What is involved in installing the relocating kit? How difficult is it to install?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.

I've never installed one but the advantage of moving the battery to the front is slightly better weight distribution. I understand the ones that go in the spare tire area are very easy to set up...there is also the under-the-headlight option.

It is a lot easier to replace your battery if it is located behind the spare tire and it also frees up some additional space for a engine swap at a later date (in addition to improving weight distribution a bit).

Are instructions provided when I buy the relocation kit?

i've relocated one of mine under the headlight and thinking of doing another while i work out a cable and alternator issue. having to fix and/or replace anything to do with the battery is a good excuse to go ahead and work out the relocation.

i drilled a hole going into my trunk, got some extended cables, and placed the battery at the bottom of the trunk area. all you need is a drill, a battery box, and something to fasten it so it doesn't move. i used a covered 2x6

------------------

the only down side is a hot start issue... me and my friend Chris (DoubleC4) seem to have that issue... we both have battery relocations... by the time the current gets from the front of the car to the back and through all the heat it dissipates and it makes it difficult to start the car. Or thats my theory anyway... otherwise id recommend it! under the headlight is the best way i think... a bit more work but very stealth.

------------------

it would be way easyer to get to under the hood and if you ever have to jump it or someone else, id also be easyer to charge it. one ofve the people id talk to is norm on here hs the one that builds them

That's interesting. My Fiero has the battery in the spare tire compartment, and has no hot-start issues. I figured hot-start would be less of a problem with a front mounted battery, since it isn't getting heat soak from the engine.

As for whether the battery location or new tray is better, I'd say that would have to be a judgement call on your part. For example, if the mounting points for the battery tray are badly rusted, then you may be better off relocating the battery. Because installing the new tray would probably require welding in some new sheet metal to support it. Also, relocating the battery would be attractive from a performance standpoint. If neither of these things applies to you, then there's no compelling reason to relocate the battery.

mine is under the headlight but i just got one of those remote positive battery posts and put it in the corner of the rear trunk from a cable at the starter. jumps and charging are no problem. i also have a cut off switch near the battery (kind of behind the fan just outside the front trunk). unless there is a problem with the battery it's self, i don't have to bother with it at all.

Here you go, its the V8 Archie front battery box, was $45 I think?

I disagree with those who claim improved weight distribution due to moving the battery. Many think that 50/50 is optimum, but it's not. Mid/rear engine Porsches, Ferraris and Lambos all have a rear bias, as do any race cars that can achieve it, such as Formula 1, Indy Cars, Top Fuel, etc. The brakes and suspension was designed with a specific weight distribution. The only way I'd change the battery location would be to restore the weight distribution after an engine swap.

I did mine using a WCF aluminum box. I love the look in both the front & rear of the car.

http://www.westcoastfiero.c...ctrical/battbox.html

It makes working on the passenger side of your motor Soooooo much easier, it cleans up the area aesthically, and disregarding f/r wieght bias, it lowers the center of gravity of your vehicle by putting a mass of lead rectangle center of the car 5" off the ground as opposed to 3' off the ground, high and to the right.

If you've ever AutoX'd a Fiero, as you go plowing into the cone understeering your car through the curve... believe me, you'll be crying for anything that would help that front end get more traction...

quote Originally posted by Saber49: the only down side is a hot start issue... me and my friend Chris (DoubleC4) seem to have that issue... we both have battery relocations... by the time the current gets from the front of the car to the back and through all the heat it dissipates and it makes it difficult to start the car. Or thats my theory anyway... otherwise id recommend it! under the headlight is the best way i think... a bit more work but very stealth.

hot start issues are due to the lower conductivity of hot wires (also why "supercondunctors" are super cold).
if there is ANY corrsion on the wires, it will be even worse - because the corrosion also holds in the heat. also, a weak battery will amplify this, as does a weak starter.

I moved my battery up front and used a box similar to Archies. I used 1 Gauge welding wide for cables and have had no problems at all. I did this at the same time I pulled out my 2.5 and upgraded to a 2.8.

------------------
Jay Brintnell
Southern Ontario Fiero Association
Yellow 85 Notchback(A.K.A. GodFearN)

The progress thread: https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/077740.html

quote Originally posted by LITEDAZE: i drilled a hole going into my trunk, got some extended cables, and placed the battery at the bottom of the trunk area. all you need is a drill, a battery box, and something to fasten it so it doesn't move. i used a covered 2x6

I was actually thinking of doing it that way. I won't need as much cabling and it would make the trunk look nice by covering the drop.

I did the trunk also. New cables, plus an extra ground from the tranny to the wheel well. I went to a boat supply shop and bought a battery box for $10, a pair of 1/2" grommets for the trunk wall as well as some cable holders. It was a piece of cake. I took an old trunk liner and covered a floor piece that I made, so when you open the deck you see a shallow trunk, original looking, and when you lift the floor, you see the battery box and my tool box. Very neat application however, you do loose a bit of trunk space, however, you keep your spare tire.

If I was more ambitious, I might have put the batter under the passenger side light, but I got lazy.

Arn

After you buy the new cables, the price won't be the same ....