Has anyone here moved their battery? I want to move mine to the parcel bin behind the passenger seat. Any major obstacles to overcome or is simply a matter of running the power and ground wires to the back? How did you mount your battery? I believe my local race shop sells a relocation kit including a new sealed battery box but I thought I would quiz the forum to see what all the alternatives are. Thanks!

 

buy a gel battery. they are a bit more $ then a box but make it easier to fit as you don't need the box. maybe $200. run a short ground wire from the battery to the frame. then run a min of 4 gauge wire from the "+" of the battery to the front and connect it to the front with your old wires. also ground the "-" wire in the front to the body that used to go the the battery. you also need a fuse breaker. I think 125 amps or so. put it close to the battery. like 6" away on the "+" wire. I plan on doing mine soon. just don't have any $$

 

I already have an Optima Gell Cell battery that I plan to use. So are you saying that I can't just eliminate the old + and - cables? If I understand correctly you are saying to splice the + cable into the old + cable and go with two grounds. I never considered that. I was thinking instead of just running new cable to replace the old stuff entirely. Are there any advantages to keeping the old wires like you suggest? Thanks for the input.

 

you don't need the box for your gel battery, these are already safe for inside mounting. you would be better off running new wires if you want to have fun digging through the harness... other wise it's much eaiser to just splice into the old ones at the front. but doing that from the pass. side will make it really long. there are only 2 "+" wires comming off the battery. one goes to the fuse box on the driver side tower, and the big one goes straight to the starter.

 

4 gauge? I used 1 gauge! muahaha i am insane! The stuff is as big around as my pinky finger (the conductor itself, not counting insulation!)

The cable was actually pretty heavy tho (but I saved an equal weight pulling out some old nonworking stereo crap)

I think I might get a gel battery, so I can remove the too-big moroso battery box I bought and put the bin lid back on for a more stealthy setup

 

Optima Red Top
Summit mounting kit
Phoenix Gold Power Distribution Block
(mine came with 4ga in and 3x 8ga out)

I used a Summit mounting kit because it was cheaper than buying the cables, etc seperately. Next I threw the plastic battery box away (probably not legal to do). I mounted the Optima using the straps and screwed the strap holders into the sheet metal. I ran 4ga wire under the plastic hatch cover, under the plastic door sill (there is LOTS of room under there), behind the plastic fuse panel cover and through an existing firewall wire pass. I pulled the wire to the front of the car and put it in the Distribution Block. I ran the 2 factory wires into the Distribution Block as well. It looks great, what little you can see.

ps. My engine is blown so it may work for sh*t-all!

 

If your going to do any track racing your going to need a vented box, even if you have a gel battery im pretty sure-

 

Pheonix Gold speakers rule :-D

 

I just checked out battery boxes from my local race shop. They say NHRA rules require a box regardless of what kind of battery you use. I also think my local road course racing association requires a vented battery box. These boxes have top that seals the battery and are made of plastic so that in the event of an accident the battery doesn't short out if it comes loose. They told me the price of the box is $167 canadian (approx. $100 US)

 

Just out of curiostiy.What do you do when you have to jump start your car? Just run the wires to the inside of your storage bin? Be freaking some people out with that!

James

 

Since I am mounting mine behind the passenger seat I guess we would have to run the cables through the passenger window. Would it be possible to have two metal posts up at the front for boosting purposes only? I'm thinking along the lines of a post under the hood that hooks to the positive cable that runs to the battery and another post that is grounded. Would that work?

 

What exactly is the point of moving your battery? The only reason I can think of is to have more space, but there is so much extra space already in the rx7s engine bay. Please enlighten me.

 

I have two reasons for moving the battery. The main reason is that I plan to run one of my front mount intercooler pipes through where the battery now rests. This will make a nice, nearly straight connection to the intake manifold.

The second reason is I race this car on the road course. Anything you can do to get weight towards the center of the car without violating the rules is a good thing. Putting the battery behind the passenger seat brings a 30 lb weight closer to the center of the car and being on the passenger side it helps to offset some of the weight of the driver. It probably doesn't make a big difference but every little bit counts and the rules in my series allow it.

 

Hey whatever works, thanks.