Pettit advertises their battery relocation kit with the words: "This kit installs with out removing the storage compartment unit." But since there are no instructions of any sort ( $250- but no instructions or pics).
The battery hold down is too big as is the battery itself.
From reading other threads...
1) I knew i would have to drill holes for the hold down and cut some openings at the bottom of the bin so the hold down rods could run through and the side(s) of the bin for the pos/neg wires
2) i figured the battery used would be small enough in the bin to require the use of foam or something to keep it from vibrating.

I just dont see how it will fit at all. Hopefully someone who has installed the kit can help.
Thanks

 

Have you tried contacting Pettit to see if they just forgot the instructions? Typically, they have no problem faxing out instructions if they are missing/lost.

 

Yeah, I will have to contact them tomorrow.

 

I think by "without removing the storage compartment unit" they mean permanently.

It appears that you still have to cut the living ***** out of the bins in order to make the battery fit. This is unnecessary if you use a Westco Miata battery, though you will need to fabricate your own bracket.

 

is this kit for a 2nd gen? don't they have different sized bins?

i have a smaller sized optima yellow top that slides in and out of the rear bin without having to remove it.

 

Pettit did my battery relocation 4 years ago and it looked nothing like that so I am guessing you got the wrong parts. Yet it is what they have out on their website. Call them and they'll take care of the problem.

If it is the right kit, send it back as there are many better and smaller battery options than that monster of a battery

 

here is what they have posted on their website. looks the same as in your pics:

 

Rip-off

 

You should never use a lead acid battery inside the passenger compartment of a car. The cables provided also appear way too small gauge.

 

+1 on both statements.

 

DAMN!!!! All you guys are correct. Now I gotta ship this crap back across the country. Pettit hasnt returned my call yet.
When I ordered I did say the car was a 93 (ordered brake rotors too)

Yeah the Optima or the Miata battery is the only way to go.
Also, the wire gauge is smaller than the oem!!

 

Edit to last post: wire gauge is about a gauge THICKER than stock.

Spoke with a guy at Pettit:
Battery IS sealed
Requires cutting off bottom 2/3 of bin
Does require some effort to get through bin opening
They say its simply a better battery than the others and way cheaper than Optima.
As far as the wiring I will simply follow some of the write-ups on the forum.

 

What's interesting about the battery used in this relocation kit, the Power Patrol sla1161, is that it is a wheel chair or scooter battery, Says it's a 44amp battery?

 

...unless it is a sealed (i.e., AGM or Gel-cell) type. These are also lead-acid.

http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Battery_FAQ.htm

Dave

 

You don't have to pull the bins to cut that off if you don't want to . Scribe you a clear cutting mark all the way around the bottom section of the bin pocket, starting about 1" below that slot for the hinge in the picture there. Use a "multi-X" or Bosch oscillating tool with semi round cutting blade to easily slice the bottom portion of the bin away. This will provide all the room you need to get your hands in there, mount you bracket, run your wires out thru the side and slide the battery in. I have a rear mounted battery in all three of my FDs


later

 

Yes - Baddrx7, that is the technique the Pettit guy described. (Im gonna pm you 4 a pic)
If after the bin is cut and the mount plate mounted, the battery then takes a bit of elbow grease to squeeze past the bin opening then I dont see a big problem anymore.
but is this Power Patrol battery actually better than the Optima or Miata battery?

 

I'm guessing it was cheaper for Petit to purchase them then an Optima, judging by the size it looks like it has a pretty good amp-hr. hope it's sealed

 

They go for about $120 retail and yes, they are sealed. Listed as a 40amp wheelchair or scooter battery:

http://www.batteryuniverse.com/cat/o...lchair-Battery

 

i say return the kit and build your own.

you could go to any local audio/speaker shop to get good quality cable & terminals, and then you can order a nice race battery from braille or even pick up a slim sealed optima from the local advanced/autozone. it will probably cost the same if not less, and you'll have a better quality setup.

 

Agreed.... After looking at the Braille website, they sell very clean aluminum mounts for a good price also. From the looks of things, you could piece one together yourself of better quality for the same price or less as the Pettit setup....

 

I have no idea if it is better or not, but the Miata battery does not require that the bins be destroyed. This alone should be reason to use the Miata battery. Destroying (expensive) interior parts like this is not going to help the resale value of the car either.

 

I should point out that nowhere on Pettit's website do they use the word "easy"
Do ya hafta use the word "destroyed"? (aww, man)
I've been through too much with this car to think about resale value this late in the game.

There is a write-up here somewhere where circular holes (about silver-dollar sized) are cut for wires to run in and out of the bin and for mounting.
...chopping off the lower 2/3 is closer to my skill level though.
With a bit more pre-planning I would've saved a bit of cash and checked out Braille.

 

Originally with my battery relocation I used the WestCo Miata battery so that I would only have to cut those lil holes and not chop up my bin. It looked good and worked....okay.... I do not DD my FD and that little battery always had issues starting the car. I recently pulled the bins back out, marked them off little by little and used a red-top optima. NO issues starting ever since.

I agree with moconnor, but all in all I am glad I decided to go ahead and trim the bin. I was able to trim by bin in such a way that it is not "totally destroyed". I cut out the bottom just an inch or two from the very bottom, then only cut the area out large enough to get the battery to fit. I did NOT need to cut the back (what you see when you open the bin from the front seats), just the seat side of the bin. I will try and find some pics so that makes more sense.

 

Ok, here are a few pics of what I was trying to describe. The less you can cut out the better.

OH, and I did not see it listed on Pettit's website, but did the kit come with a breaker? If not you will need one.

 

i have the WestCo miata battery and i have no problems at all, i even left on deployment for 6 months and when i came back my car started right up, it still had plenty of juice left. all i did before i left was trip the breaker so that it wouldn't have any load. always seems to have plenty of power to start the car.