I was looking at doing a battery relocation to the front. Why is it that the battery seems to be mounted up "high "still? Most kits look like this picture:

I never torn into a Fiero in that area, but could one cut away an area to fit a battery at the very bottom, and towards the firewall for a lower center of gravity?

It actually is almost sitting on the steering rack there, cant go any lower. You can put it under the passenger side headlight though.

quote Originally posted by Mike Gonzalez: It actually is almost sitting on the steering rack there, cant go any lower. You can put it under the passenger side headlight though.

I figured there was something that it would end up hitting if you cut out any more of the tub, but didn't know (hence the thread).

I put mine as low as it would possibly go. I can take a picture of the underside tomorrow to show you what kind of room you'd be working with if you'd like.

My original one was mounted on the front crossmember up against the firewall, but I had to take the spare tire plastic tub out. Phase 2 was to put it under the passenger headlight... which is now my preferred location.

[This message has been edited by fieroguru (edited 12-28-2010).]

In addition to the battery box being practically on top of the steering damper,
you also have the passenger side brake line that runs right under it as well.

It can be done but for all the extra work/engineering you'll need to do to mount it lower,
I think difference will be barely noticeable.

Kit

quote Originally posted by fieroguru: My original one was mounted on the front crossmember up against the firewall, but I had to take the spare tire plastic tub out. Phase 2 was to put it under the passenger headlight... which is now my preferred location.

How much work does that take to change/ access the battery?

Brad

quote Originally posted by Fiero Finale: Why is it that the battery seems to be mounted up "high "still?

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the battery is usually located in that particular spot (within the tub) is so that the spare tire can still be stored in its factory location over top of the battery. I've seen the battery located lower and closer to the "firewall", but I don't believe the spare tire can then be stored in the tub any longer.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 12-29-2010).]

quote Originally posted by twofatguys: How much work does that take to change/ access the battery? Brad

I have a master cut off mounted behind the DS head light and can (have) used this area to jump start the car. I can also flip the switch for any work being done. In the event I have to pull the battery (only reason would be to replace it), just need to take the passenger head light out first (2 nuts - bottoms are slotted) and then disconnect the battery.

I have found that with with the battery in that location and the master cut off installed, I rarely touch the thing any more... which was the whole point.

quote Originally posted by Patrick: Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the battery is usually located in that particular spot (within the tub) is so that the spare tire can still be stored in its factory location over top of the battery. I've seen the battery located lower and closer to the "firewall", but I don't believe the spare tire can then be stored in the tub any longer.

Having the spare is not a concern for me anymore so if I can mount it lower I'm going for it.

If you aren't carrying a spare then you could just simply build a shelf for it to sit on at the bottom of the tub. You wouldn't really even need to cut the tub like you do with the addition of the "box" centered under the spare. If you don’t care about the spare I think it would be real quick and easy. Basically you just need something for it to sit on and hold it in place.

Just for a visual, this is what it looks like underneath:



you can see that I placed my battery relocation tray as low as possible, just above the steering rack

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Check out my build!
https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum3/HTML/000100.html

most of us positioned the battery so that the stock spare tire still fits
otherwise the battery could sit an inch or so lower and about 4 inches further back

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87 Fiero GT 5sp with Vortec L35 4300 Turbocharged V6
Bully Stage 2 clutch
Syclone intake manifold and engine management with Moates adapter and chip burner
Air/water intercooler and Devil's Own progressive water/alky injection
50lb injectors, 3 bar map sensor, Walboro fuel pump and Jabasco Intercooler pump
LM1 wideband on custom manifolds and 3" stainless exhaust system
T31 P trim T04B H3 turbo and a S10 caliper conversion.
Murphy's Constant Matter will be damaged in direct proportion to its value
Murphy's Law of Thermodynamics Things get worse under pressure.
Arthur C. Clarke "Any significantly advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic"

Here is an old pic when my battery was mounted on the front crossmember. I used a circle track battery tray and bolted it to the double firewall section and the front crossmember.

This is a picture of my '86 GT's front compartment with the tub out of the way. Yes, there's lots of room on top of the crossmember for a battery. Put it right HERE, just behind the steering rack (like in the image posted above).




Another shot from a different angle to show all the room between the steering rack and the "firewall".

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 12-29-2010).]

I actually moved mine UP about an inch although you need to cut out a small piece of the front cross member just where the tub joins it. Doing that lets you move the battery forward so the spare still fits.
I also mount the battery pointing forward with the terminals through holes in the front of the box and put a cutout switch on the cross member for easy disconnect. Some plastic glued to the front of the box and in the holes prevents inadvertent sparks should anything touch while installing the battery.

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Dave

www.ltlfrari.com

Here's mine on my '88, compliments of bmwguru and crew, built to my design specs. I don't care about the spare because it won't fit over my brakes anyway and it's just extra weight to lug around!





If you want optimum handling and you have OCD, this is where you want it (if you want it up front... the stock cat location would be better if you have the room). It should be low for improved CG and close to the middle for mass centralization. If you have a small electrical load and can get away with a smaller battery you can tuck it even further down and back, and of course it'd save weight. Even better if it's an AGM battery, you can mount it sideways.
Under the headlight is one of the worst possible places to put it. :/ Of course, this is for optimizing handling (every little bit adds up). For normal street duty, pretty much anywhere will work.

P.S. Happy New Year!

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'88 Fiero GT - Project MIDTRBO
'10 Camaro LT/RS - daily driver
'96 Talon TSi AWD - 11-second winter beater
There's no replacement for turbo placement

[This message has been edited by ALLTRBO (edited 01-01-2011).]

is there a smaller optima to use up front? i dont know the optima models and differences. doesnt a smaller one (battery in general) need to be usedfor the placement under the headlight?

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First LX9 Fiero GT, 1987 | My Fiero Fuel Economy | MPG Display for OBD I
Youtube Videos of My GT | modernize your fiero with technology!
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.....

since i seem to be getting so many PM's about my hitch, ill answer right here
the trailor hitch/bike rack hitch jack, lifting and resting points...

cool location!!!!!!!!

quote Originally posted by americasfuture2k: is there a smaller optima to use up front? i dont know the optima models and differences. doesnt a smaller one (battery in general) need to be usedfor the placement under the headlight?

If you use the Aero Fascia, then any regular sized battery will fit. If you try to use a 84-86 bumper pad or 87/88 coupe fascia, then you would need a smaller battery.

quote Originally posted by americasfuture2k: is there a smaller optima to use up front? i dont know the optima models and differences....

Here is a good website with side-by-side comparisons of specs.
http://www.1st-optima-batteries.com/

Here is why I chose the one I did (pictured above).
(As quoted from an email to bmwguru awhile back)
...Optima Yellow-Top model D35. This is the best compromise between size, weight, CCA's and AH capacity for my car. I want a deep-cycle battery because I'll have a pretty kickin' audio/video setup in there which will do bad things to a battery when the car is off, and also because I can see lots of starting attempts and short runs while I'm tuning. I don't need a lot of CCA's as the low-compression V6 won't require much...