Well, I had been wanting to put my battery in the front for a while now, but didn't want to drop $50+ for a mount for the battery. Lo and behold, though, the Optima Red Top 75/35 works BEAUTIFULLY up front. Check it out! Cost: $0 for the mount (flip the spare tire over and hold it down with the spare tire holder downer rod) and $109 for the battery. I will also end up running 15 feet of 2 gauge welding cable from the front to the back to give power to my motor (which is in!!)
On that note, does this look about right to you? It seems really far to the right, but then again I looked at some other 4.9 installs and they were also really far to the right.
Oh, and I need a right rear cradle bolt. Where might I find one of those?
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01:28 AM
PFF
System Bot
Wipe0ut Member
Posts: 1524 From: Mankato, MN Registered: May 2002
I used bubbajoe mounts, and had to slot 3 of the mounts to get it to work. It might be a little different than yours but it sits in there pretty level. Yeah the 4.9s bolt right up to the TH125 but I am using the Cadillac 4T60-E.
I recommend everyone do a front mount battery. I will get pics of my battery tray later. My car is almost 100% rust free, but the battery tray is rusted to crap.
Wait, nevermind, I cut the battery tray out.. but believe me, it was bad.
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01:35 AM
mrfixit58 Member
Posts: 3330 From: Seffner, Fl, USA Registered: Jul 99
How do you remove your spare tire? Disconnect the battery? Kinda hard to hold the battery in one hand and lift the spare with the other. Trying to save $50 for a battery tray while, at the same time, dropping some fairly big $$$ for an engine conversion seems a little short sighted. No offence, just feedback.
I think its a great idea ! .. hey atleast hes got a spare now.. the loss was the only thing stopping me from moving my battery to the front. IMHO driving around without a spare.. now THATS short sighted.
How do you remove your spare tire? Disconnect the battery? Kinda hard to hold the battery in one hand and lift the spare with the other. Trying to save $50 for a battery tray while, at the same time, dropping some fairly big $$$ for an engine conversion seems a little short sighted. No offence, just feedback.
i think its a good idea, be honest, how often have you had to use your spare tire...if you dont drive on bad tires, your spare should look like mine does, a 20 year old dohnut with the little tire nibbles still on the tread
only thing that would prevent me from mounting my battery like this is leaks. do you have leaking problems with the battery at an angle like that? or is it a special battery
------------------ -Monkey 9 Fieros....help
[This message has been edited by FieroMonkey (edited 04-13-2004).]
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11:42 AM
Formula88 Member
Posts: 53788 From: Raleigh NC Registered: Jan 2001
How do you remove your spare tire? Disconnect the battery? Kinda hard to hold the battery in one hand and lift the spare with the other. Trying to save $50 for a battery tray while, at the same time, dropping some fairly big $$$ for an engine conversion seems a little short sighted. No offence, just feedback.
Depending on the length of your cables, you should be able to lift the battery up and set it on the cowl in front of the windshield. Not a bad idea for people who might want to do a budget move or for whatever reason don't want to cut anything to install a battery box. The battery box is the better way to go, but it does require cutting the car to do it.
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11:42 AM
Formula88 Member
Posts: 53788 From: Raleigh NC Registered: Jan 2001
Originally posted by FieroMonkey: only thing that would prevent me from mounting my battery like this is leaks. do you have leaking problems with the battery at an angle like that? or is it a special battery
Optima batteries are "gel cell" batteries and are spillproof. They can even be mounted upside down. http://www.optimabatteries.com/
only thing that would prevent me from mounting my battery like this is leaks. do you have leaking problems with the battery at an angle like that? or is it a special battery
That depends on battery selection... Optima batteries are sealed gel-cells - so no worries about leakes. But don't try an angular mount with your Sears DieHard battery... it wouldn't be a pretty site a little ways down the road
[This message has been edited by MinnGreenGT (edited 04-13-2004).]
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11:46 AM
FieroMonkey Member
Posts: 3295 From: poway,CA,USA Registered: Nov 2002
wow thats really cool! how did i miss this type of car battery. they seem to cost a bit more, but the no leaks thing sounds worth it. how do they hold up with reliability compared to conventional batterys
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11:47 AM
Wipe0ut Member
Posts: 1524 From: Mankato, MN Registered: May 2002
Their reliability is second to none, and are all around much better batteries than anything else you could buy. They are completely spillproof. One of the guys at Advance Auto uses one in his race car. He split the driveshaft and it ripped a hole in the battery. He sealed it back up with RTV sealant and put it back in the car. He's still using it - three years later.
quote
Originally posted by mrfixit58: How do you remove your spare tire? Disconnect the battery? Kinda hard to hold the battery in one hand and lift the spare with the other. Trying to save $50 for a battery tray while, at the same time, dropping some fairly big $$$ for an engine conversion seems a little short sighted. No offence, just feedback.
By lifting the battery out and setting it near the windshield wipers? It's not that hard. Also, it's not like I have to have a quick access spare tire. How often does it get used? Mine still has the nubs on the tire as well.
I'm not "cutting costs" here. I don't see any drawbacks of mounting the battery this way. It's held in securely and it's in the right spot. Saving $50+ wasn't the objective. I know you said no offense, but it still seemed a little harsh.
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01:19 PM
mrfixit58 Member
Posts: 3330 From: Seffner, Fl, USA Registered: Jul 99
... I'm not "cutting costs" here. I don't see any drawbacks of mounting the battery this way. It's held in securely and it's in the right spot. Saving $50+ wasn't the objective. I know you said no offense, but it still seemed a little harsh.
Sorry you took offence. You asked us (the readers) to check it out. Sorry, I didn't know you would be offended by someone who doesn't share your opinion. Not trying to be harsh but this is an OPEN forum.
Roy (expecting another "-")
[This message has been edited by mrfixit58 (edited 04-13-2004).]
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01:28 PM
Maetrix66 Member
Posts: 621 From: Hartland, ME, USA Registered: Nov 2002
Dude, I think that it's cool, I am just questioning the lack of support ffrom underneath. I suppose a tray could be made to hook into the bolt holes in the spare tire and support the battery from underneath. It's still a cool idea, and if someone doesn't know how to disconnect the battery and remove the spare tire, then they shouldn't be driving.
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01:31 PM
Wipe0ut Member
Posts: 1524 From: Mankato, MN Registered: May 2002
Originally posted by mrfixit58: Sorry you took offence. You asked us (the readers) to check it out. Sorry, I didn't know you would be offended by someone who doesn't share your opinion. Not trying to be harsh but this is an OPEN forum.
Roy (expecting another "-")
Who's offended? You gave me reasons why it was a bad idea, and I replied with reasons countering what you said. It's a discussion forum, you know.
It's actually not very hard at all to get the spare tire out. If you leave a little extra on the battery cables up front, you won't need to disconnect anything. It's in there pretty securely, too. Check it out: http://www.teamcaf.org/upload/battery.avi The top thing on the battery that wiggles around is just a mounting thing that I will probably take off. For now I just plopped the battery up front to show you guys. The hardest part was getting the spare tire rod bolt thing to thread..
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03:47 PM
mrfixit58 Member
Posts: 3330 From: Seffner, Fl, USA Registered: Jul 99
I applaud your resourcefulness. You'll also need to secure the cables to keep them from chaffing yet be long enough to allow the battery to fit on top of the cowl. Then, if you have to use the spare, the full size tire has to go into the rear trunk, What is going to keep the battery from sliding around in the front compartment. Of course, you could just stuff anything convienient (rags, newspaper, an old sweatshirt) to try to keep it from sliding around until you can replace the donut but still, another thing to do and to worry about on that long dark stormy night (that's when most tire problems occure ). But, for ME, if I have to have use my spare tire, chances are I'm already in a pretty foul mood and the last thing I want to do is fumble around with something else. And, not trying to be mean but, just because you CAN do something, doesn't mean it the best thing to do. All that being said, that is a pretty cool vid. I wish I knew how to do something like that... I can't even get PIP to work for me lately.
Well obviously it isn't for everyone. I can live with having the battery slide around while I limp to a tire shop - I probably won't be screaming around corners too much anyway.. look at the size of that donut I've had to have my cars jumped four or five times, and I've jumped six or seven people. I haven't popped a tire yet, though! If you live on a road with a lot of nails (or you know how to turn your headlights off..), you will probably want the battery tray, though.
Edit: but hey! if nobody suggested alternative ways to do things, we'd all be driving the same thing!
[This message has been edited by Wipe0ut (edited 04-13-2004).]
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04:46 PM
PFF
System Bot
Midshipman Easy Member
Posts: 198 From: San Antonio TX Registered: Dec 2003
Or , in your case, with the 4.9, you can jump it off by putting the positive jumper on the alternator battery connection since the alt is easily accessible.
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10:44 PM
Wipe0ut Member
Posts: 1524 From: Mankato, MN Registered: May 2002
Originally posted by Midshipman Easy: I like it !!!! Thanks for the video ! If seeing is believing then I've hit my I Believe button. + for you. Ken (added this mod to my Plan page so theres no going back now )
Thanks. Once I have other cool things to do, of course video will follow. It seems not many on this board post videos of stuff, so I figure it'll be my job. Once I get the 4.9 running there will be more video than you ever would have imagined.
