So I'm doing a massive amount of restoration on my Fiero and I have the engine cradle out for a swap. I'm considering moving the battery since I cut my rusty tray out anyway, but is there a place to put it that doesn't require modifying the sheet metal, or losing the spare tire/jack/sunroof storage space? Thanks.

Jason

[This message has been edited by FieroGT42 (edited 02-04-2013).]

V8 Archie's front mount battery tray, you need to cut the spare tire (fiberglass) tray to install the battery tray for a side mount battery. If done correctly, the spare tire should fit over the battery in the same spare tire location. You would need longer battery cables.

I'm not sure if you include modifying the fiberglass spare tire tub as "sheet metal" or not. If not, then Archie has a fiberglass tray that gets installed in a hole you cut into the spare tire tub. The tray holds the battery just above the steering rack. The spare gets placed overtop of the battery though you have to turn it so the wheel hub dishes upwards rather than down, so you lose a little storage space but the jack and sunroof fit the same as stock.

An alternate location is just forward of the passenger rear wheel, behind the quarter panel. You'd have to fabricate a mounting tray there, and it would be difficult to access unless you removed the wheel well liner, though it would hide it well.

Completely under the passenger head light. Only sheet metal modification was drilling the seven 1/4" mounting holes and trimming a drain hole flange to be flush on the bottom side(the small battery was to fit above the formula fascia):



Here is the other place I considered mounting it (In front of the spare tire area by the driver side head light):

[This message has been edited by fieroguru (edited 02-04-2013).]

Do some checking on Archies before you buy. I bought a car with Archies and it doesnt look there is enough room. I am waiting for the weather to get a little warmer and I will try to get the spare in. Here is a picture of what I have. I think the bolts have to go. Also I am replacing the batter with a gel battery. So I can angle it if I need to.


Steve W
NE Grand Rapids, MI
88 Coupe fender/bender now at Wellers Auto parts in GR
87 GT

You will also have to move all that electrical stuff??? Its also in the way.

RJ

the WCF battery front tray will allow you to keep your spare.

In order to install, you have to cut your front tub, but it is not sheet metal or fiberglass. It is just heavy guage plastic.

New here, so what is WCF and is it this same small battery in the picture?

The way I do mine requires about an inch to be taken out of the cross member but it allows the stock size battery to sit slightly forward so the spare just sits over it, no problem.

Cutout in tub and bottom of cross member:



Side view of the 'box':



In place without sides:



The Battery mounts facing FORWARD. I cut two holes in the front of the box. I use a piece of plastic sheet glued to the front and line the holes with a short length (like 1/4 inch) of pvc pipe to insulate the connectors and I hook up a cutoff switch on the firewall so I can 'disconnect' the battery any time.

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Anything I might say is probably worth what you paid for it, so treat it accordingly!

Dave

www.ltlfrari.com

quote Originally posted by LornesGT: New here, so what is WCF and is it this same small battery in the picture?

http://westcoastfiero.com/

though I don't see their aluminum battery box listed anymore. Shame... it is a great product and has worked well with the Optima's I have used since 2003.

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<---- did you buy Cliff a beer?
......................................................www.northtexasfieroclub.org

Some people have moved them to the "shelves" on the sides of the trunk, like on the passenger side. Doesn't take much to move them there and you lose little room. It also allows you to only have to go to a parts store and run slightly longer wires, rather than having to run something SUPER long like with a front mount swap. Then you can also get a spare piece of trunk carpet and cover up that area and it look like nothing out of the ordinary is there. I would think the only thing you would have to account for is if you have the blower motor still there (less space) and you may have to fab a flat piece to hang slightly over the deeper opening of the trunk (wouldn't be much).

Other than that I can't think of much else that could be done without serious cutting of stuff.

I don't like the idea of cutting original panels, whether they're metal or plastic, but those are really good ideas. I took out my blower and pipes since I don't think it was working anyway. I may just get a slimmer battery and put it on the firewall or blower area for now, then relocate later if an engine swap requires the room.

Thanks for the ideas everyone!

Hello, this has been done hundreds of times. Its not hard nor rocket science. Relocate the battery under the spare tire. The spare tire holds the battery down, keeps the structual safe crash zone as stock. Places the weight of the battery up front and low rather than next to the engine high and over the rear wheels, the Fiero is too heavy in the rear already. When you open the front hood it looks stock, nothing out of place. Yes, you cut the plastic wheel well, done right it looks great even under the car, nothing hanging down out place. You can still place the sunroof glass as stock too. Thanks again Norm www.normsfiberglass.com

[This message has been edited by normsf (edited 02-05-2013).]

A real easy way to cut out the hole in the spare tire area is with a hot knife...the kind you use for wood burning.

Make sure it s well ventilated and you wear a mask.

Then take a silver paint pen and mark out the area you need to cut.

Once the hot knife is completely heated, it cuts it like butter

Also if you go with a dry-cell like the Dyna-Batt above...you won't have to cut out the part closest to the cab as shown in the picture above, because the battery is not as wide & the spare clears just fine.

[This message has been edited by TXOPIE (edited 02-05-2013).]

As has been stated/shown...
Archie's tray fits directly into the spare tire well.
Norm showed the trim points you have to make on the back lip of the spare tire well.

The battery posts should face toward the front of the car, and if you go with the 650cca or smaller battery, the spare tire will fit over the top just fine, and provide the necessary battery clamp to hold it in place.