Hi all,

I'm contimplating designing and having some custom FC parts made up. There are two things I'm considering:

A battery tray for a 51R battery (smaller, 10lbs lighter, good capacity and commonly available). I've sold about ~60 of them for FDs, they are made from all stainless steel and turn out much nicer than they need to be. All corners are welded and ground. Check out the pics of my FD tray. Cost is $55+$5 shipping on the FD tray, should be similar for the FC. The tray gives room for a larger IC in the FD, and could give more room for IC piping on the FC.

Also I'm thinking about making a TID for the TII, this won't be a plastic plumbing job but similar quality to the battery tray mentioned above. It would be made out of aluminum piping welded up along with a bracket made to hold the MAF sensor.

This isn't home made stuff, this is professional grade fabrication. I design sheetmetal and injection molded plastic parts for a living using 3-D cad.

This is a full time business either, it is just something I do for fun and use my project car for a design mule. I haven't had a FC for a few years but I bought one a few months ago...

Let me know what you think. I'm trying to judge interest.

Thanks,
Jeff
87 TII
93 R1

 

Crap I didn't include the link. Check out the pics of the FD tray at:

http://www.wvinter.net/~flanham/wlanham/battery

Jeff

 

im using a miata battery with miata battery tray. The tray doesnt quit fit right, im going to build a new tray out of aluminum. Ill shoot you guy some pics when i get it done.

 

I like the small tray idea, but do you have any sort of cover for the battery, like the factory ABS cover.

The FC engine bay tends to destroy batteries pretty quick, because of the poor air flow.

 

I don't have a cover. It wasn't really a concern for the FD (lots and lots of heat). The whole idea for the FD was that larger ICs actually rub the stock battery and leave no room for the battery, the 51R is about 2" narrower so it allows room for the larger IC without the battery rubbing a hole through it and lets a little more air out of the radiator.

Some FC friends of mine asked if I was interested in making an FC tray, since the battery wieghs about 10lbs less and FC trays are starting to fall apart due to age. The battery life will be less without a tray but the engine life will be less running more boost. Many FCs don't even have the stock cover anymore. Get my drift? I've been running the 51R for about 1yr now, no heat sheild or cover, the FD engine compartment is definetly hotter than the FCs.

As far as the aluminum tray, that is what I had the proto made out of (4 pics in above link) but it just didn't make me feel comfortable since it is prone to corrosion. Also the Miata battery is quite a bit more $ than a 51R battery.

 

Ive got a TID now, show me one of better quality for a reasonable price, and id think about buying it. What CAD program are you using? I used to use AUTOCAD.

 

Yeah, I know you have a TID, I did a search and checked out some history on them.

Check out the pics of the battery tray, if you want some more detailed pics send me your email addy and I can show you what type of quality were talking about here. The under side of the tray is actually more impressive, the corners are welded, ground and brushed so you can't even tell they were welded. Similar to stainless steel counters you see in some restaurants. IMHO the TID I'm going to do is much nicer than it needs to be, more for someone that wants their car to look good AND go fast. Of course that rubber reducer everyone is using won't last forever, definetly doesn't look too good.

I also designed up some block-off plates for the FD, not rocket science at all, you can just cut some out of plate aluminum or steel, no problem. I had mine made on a CNC mill, fit absolutely perfect and would look at home on a race car. I sold about 25 sets and that was it, just enough to pay for a little of my time and my set.


I'm using Pro/Engineer, it is a 3-D solid modeler, completely different ballpark than Autocad.

Jeff

 

Hey Jeff. I am interested in the TID. Can I get more info please? Thanks in advance!

Dan

 

I'd like some pics of the battery box installed into a FC to see how much room its really going to get me....

THe quality looks top notch, i just want to see where it fits under the hood before i commit-


Not that i have money to buy **** right now though.

 

dyre nice sig what ever happend to relocating the battery to the back? helps even out the weight ratio too

 

How much does a 51R battery cost? Can you just pick one up at pep boys or something? I didn't see anything like what you have in your pic when I was looking at batteries a while ago...but, then again, i didn't look hard.

-Tesla

 

The TID will be awhile. It won't be a cheap rubber reducer and ABS pipe. I'll probably make it out of all aluminum piping welded up with an option of a blow off valve connection venting to the TID or not. Silicone couplers will be used to couple the TID to the turbo and MAF. There will also be a laser cut bracket that holds the MAF to the body to prevent unwanted movement. I don't have an idea on the pricing yet, I have to get it quoted.

For the 51R battery, just run down to your local parts store and check one out. It is the same battery that some Honda Civic use so it is nothing rare. Some places stock a "heavy duty" 51R that might be a good choice since it has a higher CCA rating. I haven't had any problems with my regular 51R in my FC or FD.

FCs and FDs have 50/50 weight distribution, so relocation isn't required. FD guys put the battery in the rear for the large ICs, but I have rear seats in my FD so that isn't an option. Also I don't like the idea of having it in the car, under the hood is just fine for me.

Jeff

 

Hey Jeff,

Would you be interested in making a solid alluminum intake peice that would eliminate the black flexable plastic for the n/a guys? Seems like there is alot of interest for something like that.

By the way, did you ever get a ecu/ic for your FD yet? CJ

 

i have a 90 t2 and would would be interested in the TID for sure.... also i just put on a greddy front mount and my damn battery doesnt fit at all.... i have to look into the 51r battery.. how will that fit in my stock tray? guess i better get a tray from you to .... let em nkow what you decide to do...

 

Jeff....you still there?

 

Hey CJ,

I haven't gotten a ECU or IC for my FD, I've been working on the TII lately, getting pretty fast, lost 250lbs. Still looks like a street car, full interior etc, sorta loud with a straight through exhaust.

I don't have a n/a so designing an intake pipe for that would be hard for me.

On the TID, I'm going to be getting some quotes in the next week from production shop. I'll post pricing when I get it.

The 51R battery will save you about 2" in width, I have pics of a 51R battery in my TII if anyone wants to see them PM me. I still have the stock tray in there, the proto tray will also be a couple weeks. If anyone wants to see a .jpg of the tray off the computer screen I can send that to you, it isn't a real part though, it is a screen dump of a CAD file. Trays are laser cut and welded.

Jeff